WCP4405

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Nov[embe]^r. 26^th. 1896

My dear Poulton

I am sorry to be obliged to decline the honour you would put upon me but there is nothing so distasteful to me as to attempt to make speeches, while to such an audience as I shall have at Oxford it is simply impossible!

The proper man is Sir Joseph Hooker, who was Darwin’s oldest friend, or rather is the [2] only surviving old friend.

I could have wished, myself, that Oxford would do honour to Darwin’s memory in another way — by founding some institution or Professorship for research & experiment on Evolution-problems. That would be worth any number of statues & more to [3] his taste.

Pray excuse my perversity on this matter &

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