WCP4354

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming

Oct[obe]^r. 24^th. 1888

My dear Mr. Poulton

Many thanks for the proofs of Weismann. He is wonderfully interesting and the translation is admirably clear — not a bit like a translation from the German. The art[icle] on "Duration of Life" is a most ingenious application of Nat[ural] Select[io]n. — That on "Supposed Transmission of Ac[quired] Characters" is like breaking a butterfly on the wheel, the "supposed proofs" being so extremely weak as hardly to be worth such an elaborate refutation.

[2] Do you want the proofs returned? If so send a P[ost]Card & I will return them instantly.

I was obliged to go on & finish my chapter in which I notice Weismann’s views from the articles in "Nature", & there is nothing to add from those now sent.

I can only touch on these matters lightly, as mine is intended to be a popular, or at all events, a readable book.

Believe me| Yours faithfully| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

E. B. Poulton Esq

[3] P.S[.] I shall be glad of any other proofs you can spare, on same class of subjects.

ARW [signature]