My Dear Sir,1
Accept my thanks for the beautiful present you have made me & the warm welcome which you made me on my return to Eng. You ask me whether I am likely to go out again. I have no intention at present of doing so. Eleven years of tropical residence & travel devoted to one pursuit is a sufficient portion of life to be so spent. I have amassed an extensive private coll[ection]. & intend to devote at least some years to the study of the species with a view to publishing an "Insect Fauna" of the Amazon valley.2 With regard to the other topic mentioned in your very kind letter: I must assure you that I think I have pursued & still do pursue the invest[igation]. of the wonderful & beautiful creatures that people the earth with a spirit of humility admiration & reverence. There will be difference of opinion between us I have no doubt on mere matters of undemonstrable Dogmatic theology, but in the more essential points of true religious feeling & spirit, I hope in any thing I may hereafter write & publish to continue & increase the good opinion you appear to have of me.
HWB [signature]3
Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP4760.5122)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP4760,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4760