Ɛpsilon

WCP4645

Letter (WCP4645.4961)

[1]

Down.

Beckenham, Kent.

3 August [1872]1

My dear Wallace

I hate controversy, chiefly perhaps because I do it badly; but as Dr Bree2 accuses you of "blundering", I have thought myself bound to send the enclosed letter to Nature; that is if you in the least desire it. In this case please post it.— If you do not at all wish it, I shd rather prefer not sending it, & in this case please to tear it up—

And I beg you to do the same, if you intend answering Dr Bree yourself, as you will do it incomparably better than I shd—

Also please to tear it up if you don't like the letter.

My dear Wallace | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin.3,4 [signature]

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to Nature, 3 August [1872]. (DCP)
2
Bree, Charles Robert (1811-1886). British physician and zoologist.
3
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). British naturalist, geologist and author, notably of On the Origin of Species (1859).
4
The letter is mostly in the handwriting of Emma Darwin.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP4645.4961)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Darwin Correspondence Project [2012-11-20] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Author’s draft (WCP4645.5124)

[1]

by Mr W. I hate controversy, probably because chiefly [illeg.] because I do it badly; but as Dr Bree accuses you of "blundering", I have thought myself bound to send the enclosed letter to Nature; that is if you in the least desire it. [illeg.]

If you do not at all desire it, I shd rather prefer not sending it & in this case please tear it up. —

Wallace | Aug 3d.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Author’s draft (WCP4645.5124)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Lord, Annette [2012-12-17] Transcription checked by Barton, Michael [2020-06-09] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Published letter (WCP4645.6050)

[1] [p. 272]

Down. August 3 [1872].

My dear Wallace,—I hate controversy, chiefly perhaps because I do it badly; but as Dr. Bree accuses you of "blundering," I have throught myself bound to send the [2] [p. 273] enclosed letter1 to Nature, that is, if you in the least desire it. In this case please post it. If you do not at all wish it, I should rather prefer not sending it, and in this case please tear it up. And I beg you to do the same, if you intend answering Dr. Bree yourself, as you will do it incomparably better than I should. Also please tear it up if you don't like the letter.—My dear Wallace, yours very sincerely,

CH. DARWIN.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP4645.6050)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Sherwood, Danni [2020-06-09] Transcription checked by Lo, Yen [2020-10-30] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP4645,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4645