WCP3804

[1]

5 Westbourne Grove Terrace, W.

May 22nd. 1864

My dear D^r. Hooker¹

Thanks for your kind note.² I am glad you like my little paper.³

You rather mistake my meaning which I have not expressed clearly enough, as to the systematic classification of man. I do not at all agree with Owen's⁴ system, and only meant to intimate that, looking on man as an intellectual being only, & considering the effects that intellect [2] had produced in fixing his own external characters as well as in modifying other living beings, — this was some reason to class him apart from the rest of organic nature; — as we practically do when we place the reason & moral faculties of man, as opposed to the ^mental faculties of the whole of the animal world.

In true zoological classification I would only give its due weight to the structural peculiarities of the scull & brain, in combination with every other physical character, and [3] as man does certainly not differ from the chimpanzee so much as the Chimpanzee does from the Galeopithecus the Aye-aye or the Lemurs, I can only class him as forming a distinct family, of the same Order which contains them all.

I suppose the Gardens are looking beautiful now. I must try & get over to see them soon. My brother in law Mr. Thos. Sims⁵ is a photographer & would like to take some large views in the Gardens & in the Palm & other houses. Can he have permission [4] to do so, — & is there any back road by which a cab could come in with the apparatus? If you could grant an order I should be much obliged.

Hoping Mrs. Hooker⁶ & your family are all quite well.

Believe me | yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

J. D. Hooker. M.D.

P.S. May I beg one of your "cartes" in exchange — ARW.