WCP4639

[1]¹

Note A This rather long passage, the object of which is to emphasize my father’s credulity, is really, I think, somewhat inconclusive.

Your recollection of what Prof. Royce² told you in 1909 that Prof. James³ remarked in 1887, is to the effect that the latter expressed surprise at Wallace "plunging in" while the Americans were so cautious.

Prof. Royce’s recollection in 1915 was that Prof. James had observed "that it must seem strange to Wallace to see his companions hesitating on the brink while he plunged right in!["] I think this whole passage could be omitted with advantage and that your own expression of opinion that "to a disinterested reader the phenomenon &c….. were suspicious in the highest degree", is ample, [2] especially as there are distinguished Fellows of the R. S. who share my father’s convictions.

[3] Note B.

I do not quite like this appeal to sentiment, if I may so express it, in a matter which my father, rightly or wrongly, treated scientifically. He may have misinterpreted the evidence (I have not given it much attention) but his whole case was based upon official statistics published in Government Bluebooks. See "My Life"⁴ II 351-352.

Here again I think your own remark as it stands after the deletion which I suggest has been made is really all that is necessary to make your point clear.

[4] Note C.

I think the ‘confession’ should end with the word ‘opposition’. The sentence commencing — "An uphill fight" is, I believe, Mr Sharpe’s⁴ comment upon it, but this is not an important matter.