WCP4413

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

May 28th. 1900

My dear Poulton¹

I am very sorry that I cannot sign your memorial. If it were one asking for enquiry only, I would gladly have signed it. But it makes a number ^several of statements of opinion with which I wholly disagree.

Par. 6 states that it is a "national duty" to make collections &c. and (5) implies that it is equally a "duty" to pay a sufficient staff to classify the thousands [2] of species of insects &c. &c. continually accumulating.

As I think that these things should be done by the exertions of naturalists themselves, & that to tax people in order to do these is unjustifiable plunder, of course I cannot sign such a statement.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Prof. E. B. Poulton