WCP4054

[1]

Rosehill, Dorking.

July 23rd. 1876

My dear Newton¹

I thought, of course that you would have been told by Prof. M. Foster² that my Address as President would be wholly Zoological. Had a long correspondence with him on the subject & was very near declining the whole thing, but having been offered the Presidency 2 years running I did not like to do so. Having read nothing & done nothing in Anthropology for 4 or 5 years³ [2] I sh^d. be afraid to touch it, and I was assured by M. Foster that my "charge of the Department" was nominal, & a compliment to the Anthropologists "to have the President",— which I did not see.

However to the point. My Address (not yet written) will be something about zoology of islands and a few odds & ends:— perhaps touching on Migration or Instinct.

I am glad you will take the "Challenge" as that relieves me from the necessity of saying anything [3] about it, as I know nothing, but second hand reports. Extinction of Animals by man is t a fine subject— but why don’t you keep it for Presidential Address next year— as you will or ought to be President of Section.

As I shall be "Zoological", you need not be very long (unless you like) & the "Challenge" & my humble self’s ^Book will furnish you with pages for sufficient remarks.

^Alston’s4 notice of my book⁵ in the "Academy"⁶ is good, though short. That is the "Spectator" began with great flourishes of trumpets— I have not seen the end yet. Darwin⁷ has written me several long ^{& very kind & appreciative} letters [4] about it, with some few criticisms & suggestions. How can you expect a reviewer to read such a book. It is simply impossible. I should like Bentham⁸ to review it, as I think he would perhaps appreciate its objects better that most zoologists. Macmillan has used too thick paper & so made it ponderous to handle, a fit type perhaps of its awful business to read.

When you have finished your Address just let me know the heads, as I may wish to refer to it to explain my omissions.

I have sold "the Dell"⁹ & removed here, whence I have access to Charring Cross & can attend the Zoo. evenings again.

Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]