WCP5000

[1]

Pen-y-bryn, St. Peter Road, Croydon

Jan[uar]^y. 1st. 1881

My dear Prof. Asa Gray¹

Many thanks for your kind notes. I have not seen the Address of Prof. Dana² you refer to, but I have supported my views by reference to his "Geology"³ where however I think the ^subject is only referred to in connection with the development of the American Continent.

I see I must apologize for not mentioning your name at the foot of p[age]. 119; but the fact is I am (I am sorry to say) very careless & unsystematic in the way of references. In this case I had so fully quoted you as my authority more than a year before in my article on [2] "Epping Forest"⁴ in the Fortnightly⁵, that when again briefly alluding to the ^{same point} I forgot that it had not appeared in any regular work & was therefore hardly not common scientific property. When I have appropriated and assimilated an idea (especially so good & suggestive a one as this) I am apt to make use of it as a matter of course, forgetting that the general readers, even many scientific men, may not be acquainted with its origin. Should my work come to a second Edition⁶ I will take care that the omission is rectified, and should you meet with any errors or deficiencies in any [3] other part of the volume — especially as relate to Botany, in which I am a mere ignorant compiler. I shall be very thankful for any hints or corrections you can give me.

Wishing you the Compliments of the Season

I remain with much respect | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Professor Asa Gray.