WCP4304

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming.

Dec^r. 5th. 1883

My dear Sir¹

I have delayed writing to thank you for sending me the new edition of your "Socialisme Contemporain"² till I could find time to read it. I have now done so with the greatest pleasure & profit. I have been particularly interested in your account of the "International", & also with your criticism of the doctrines of Karl Marx.³ This latter appears to me so valuable that I hope to induce a friend to translate it for circulation among the English mechanics who are greatly inclined to adopt [2] the views of Marx. I presume your permission would be freely granted for such a translation,— or for that of your whole work if it could be arranged.

The only part of your book which seemed to me not quite so satisfactory is that which treats of "Collectivisme" or the Belgian School of "Rational Socialism". I must say the more I read of the writings of MM. de Potter⁴ & F. Borde⁵ the more I am struck with the ^logical strength of their position in developing the main lines of [3] a perfect social state, in which every human faculty will have full play & individualism remain almost unimpaired except by such restrictions as are strictly necessary for the well-being of all. No doubt Society is not yet advanced enough for any such scheme; but as a guiding star towards which all social and political reform should tend it seems to me to deserve far more attention that it has hitherto received.

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

M. E. de Laveleye.