WCP4530

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

April 6th. 1894

My dear Meldola¹

Thanks for your kind enquiries — & compliments. I think the excursion did me good, except for a little stiffness in knees & back next day. On Wednesday we had an outing to Lytchett to a Daffodil Wood, & the fresh air on both occasions got rid of my bronchitis entirely.

I am glad Poulton² had some discussions with the Neo-Lamarckians in America. Of course he had [2] the best of the argument — but, equally of course, they were not convinced. It is now the "American school". It gives them the opportunity of posing as a centre of independent thought, and gives them the opportunity of abundant criticism on British Biologists. Most of them have no conception of the real point at issue, as they again & again bring forward as "acquired" characters [3] what are obviously congenital. They are also blind to the the constant & inevitable action of selection, & its power of rapid modification.

We know Studland very well. It is one of the most thoroughly old & picturesque villages I know. The little norman church is beautiful. The beach towards the Harbour is however for sale for building to make a new seaside resort! It is terrible.

With kind regards to [4] Mrs. Meldola,³

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

Prof. R Meldola