WCP4054

[1]¹

Rosehill, Dorking.

July 23rd. 1876

My dear Newton²

I thought, of course that you would have been told by Prof. Th. Foster that my Address as President would be wholly Zoological. Had a long correspondence with him re the subject &was very near declining the whole thing but having been offered the Presidency 2years running I did not like to do so. Having read nothing & done nothing in Anthropology for 4 or 5 years³ [2] I sh[ould]? be afraid to touch it, and I was assured by Mr. Foster that my "charge of the Department" was unusual, & 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 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’s notice of my book in the "Academy" is good, though short. That is the "Spectator" began with great flourishes of trumpets— I have not seen the end yet. Darwin 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 Bentham to review it, as I think he would perhaps appreciate it objects better that most zoologists. Macmillan has used too thick paper &so made it ponderous to handle, a fit typo 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" & removed here, whence I have access to Charring Cross & can attend the Zoo. evenings again

Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]⁴