WCP5618

Published letter (WCP5618.6391)

[1] [p. 30]1

CANON KINGSLEY TO A. R. WALLACE

Eversley Rectory, Winchfield. May 5, 1869.

My dear Sir, — I am reading — or rather have all but read — your new book,2 with a delight which I cannot find words to express save those which are commonplace superlatives. Let me felicitate you on having, at last, added to the knowledge of our planet a chapter which has not its equal (as far as I can recollect) since our friend Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle."3 Let me, too, compliment you on the modesty and generosity which you have shown, in dedicating your book to Darwin4, and speaking of him and his work as you have done. Would that a like unselfish chivalry were more common — I do not say amongst scientific men, for they have it in great abundance, but — in the rest of the community.

May I ask — as a very great favour — to be allowed to call on you some day in London, and to see your insects?5 I and my daughter6 are soon, I hope, going to the West Indies, for plants and insects, among other things; and the young lady might learn much of typical forms from one glance at your treasures.

[2] [p. 31]7 I send this letter by our friend Bates8 — being ignorant of your address. — Believe me, my dear Sir, ever yours faithfully, C. KINGSLEY.

1
Page [[1]] is on p. 30, and page [[2]] on p. 31, of Marchant, James. 1916. Alfred Russel Wallace Letters and Reminiscences. London New York, Toronto and Melbourne: Cassell and Company, Ltd. 2: [pp. 30-31].
2
Wallace, A. R. 1869. The Malay Archipelago: The Land of the Orang-Utan and the Bird of Paradise. A Narrative of Travel With Studies of Man and Nature London: Macmillan & Co. A footnote on page 30 of Marchant (see note 1) reads "'The Malay Archipelago.'"
3
Darwin, Charles. 1839. Journal Of Researches Into The Geology And Natural History Of The Various Countries Visited By H.M.S. Beagle, Under The Command Of Captain Fitzroy, R.N. From 1832 To 1836. London: Henry Colburn.
4
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). British naturalist, geologist and author, notably of On the Origin of Species (1859).
5
See WCP4314_L4452, ARW to Kingsley, 7 May 1869, in reply.
6
Kingsley, Rose Georgina (1845-1925). British. Eldest daughter of Charles Kingsley.
7
Page [[2]], Page 31 of Marchant, 1916 (see note 1) is headed "Correspondence on Biology, etc."
8
Bates, Henry Walter (1825-1892). British naturalist, explorer and close friend of ARW.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Published letter (WCP5618.6391)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Preston, Tim [2019-12-17] Transcription checked by Lucas, Paula [2020-08-13]

Please cite as “WCP5618,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 3 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP5618