Ɛpsilon

WCP4001

Letter (WCP4001.3944)

[1]

5, Westbourne Grove Terrace, W.

Thursday [18 June 1863]1

Dear Newton2

Something ought to result from our last night’s debate. I enclose my proposal for a reconciliation.

I think Sclater3 must agree to it as so much is given up to him, & I have placed a sop for you in the position of Struthiones, so you must sacrifice Herodiones to the [2]4 Commonwealth.

The European families you shall insert where you like, & then I & Swinhoe5 with the assistance of Blyth6will get in the purely Eastern forms. Thus the thing will be done. I hope therefore you will sign, & get it signed by the other three, so that there may no longer be dissention in the camp.

yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

A. Newton Esq.

1
See note 4.
2
Newton, Alfred (1829-1907). British zoologist and ornithologist. Founding member of the British Ornithologists' Union.
3
Sclater, Philip Lutley (1829-1913). British lawyer, zoologist and ornithologist, secretary to the Zoological Society of London.
4
In Newton’s handwriting, “A. R. Wallace, London. June 18/63. Answered June 19/63.” The letter has not been found.
5
Swinhoe, Robert (1836-1877). British diplomat, naturalist and honorary member of the British Ornithologists' Union.
6
Blyth, Edward (1810-1873). British zoologist; Curator of the Museum of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal 1841-62.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP4001.3944)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Jenkins, Helen [2012-12-04] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15] Transcription checked by Costa, Leslie [2020-05-08] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP4001,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4001