Ɛpsilon

WCP4454

Letter (WCP4454.4758)

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Dorset.

May 28th. 1912

My dear Poulton1

Thanks for your paper on Darwin2 & Bergson.3 I have read nothing of Bergson’s, and although he evidently has much in common with my own idea views, yet all vague ideas-like "an internal development force" — seem to me of no real value as an explanation of nature.

I claim to have shown the necessity of an ever-present mind [2] as the primal cause both of all physical & biological evolution. This mind works by & through the primal forces of nature, — by means of "natural selection" in the world of Life; and I do not think I could read a book which rejects this method in favour of a vague "law of "sympathy". He might as well reject "gravitation", electrical [3] repulsion &c. &c. as explaining the motions of cosmical bodies.

My long attack of "eczema", & my ever increasing correspondence makes it impossible for me to do anything or leave home.

I think you speak rather too favourably of Fabre.4 It seems to me that the Peckhams5 have shown that his observations are [4] imperfect & his conclusions often completely wrong!

Excuse brevity.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

1
Poulton, Edward Bagnall (1856-1943). British entomologist. Hope Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Jesus College.
2
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). British naturalist, geologist and author, notably of On the Origin of Species (1859).
3
Bergson, Henri-Louis (1859-1941). French philosopher.
4
Fabre, Jean-Henri (1823-1915). French naturalist, entomologist, and author known for the lively style of his popular books on the lives of insects.
5
Peckham has not been identified.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP4454.4758)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Lord, Annette [2012-07-19] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Envelope (WCP4454.4759)

Envelope addressed to "Prof. E. B. Poulton F.R.S., Wykeham House, Oxford", with stamp, postmarked "BROADSTONE | 10:30 AM | MY 28[?] | 12". Note on front of envelope in Poulton's hand: "May 28. 1912"; postmark on back. [Envelope (WCP4454.4759)]

Published letter (WCP4454.6467)

[1] [p. 98]

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Dorset. May 28, 1912.

My dear Poulton,—Thanks for your paper on Darwin and Bergson. I have read nothing of Bergson's, and although he evidently has much in common with my own views, yet all vague ideas—like "an internal development of force"—seem to me of no real value as an explanation of Nature.

I claim to have shown the necessity of an ever-present Mind as the primal cause both of all physical and biological evolution. This Mind works by and through the primal forces of nature—by means of Natural Selection in the world of Life; and I do not think I could read a book which rejects this method in favour of a vague "law of sympathy." He might as well reject gravitation, electrical repulsion, etc. etc., as explaining the motions of cosmical bodies...—Yours very truly,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP4454.6467)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Sherwood, Danni [2020-07-28] Transcription checked by Lo, Yen [2020-10-30] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP4454,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4454