Dear Darwin

I was just leaving Town for a few days when I received your letter¹ or should have replied at once.

The “Reader” has no doubt changed hands, & I am inclined to think for the better.² It is purchased I believe by a gentleman who is a fellow of the Anthropolog. Society but I see no signs of its being made a special organ of that Soc.

The Editor (& (I believe Prop^r.) is a Mr. Bendyshe the most talented man in the Society,³ & judging from his speaking, which I have often heard, I should say the articles on “Simeon & Simony”, “Metropolitan Sewage” and “France & Mexico” are his, & these are in my opinion superior to anything that has been in the “Reader” for a long time;⁴ they have the point & brilliancy which are wanted to make leading articles readable & popular. The articles on Mill’s Pol. Economy & on Mazzini, are also first rate.⁵ He has introduced also the plan of having two & now three important articles in each number,—one Political or Social, one literary & one Scientific. Under the old regime they never had an editor above mediocrity, except Masson;⁶ there was a want of unity among the Prop^trs., as to the aims & objects of the Journal; & there was a want of capital to secure the services of good writers.⁷ This seems to me to be now all changed for the better, & I only hope the rumour of that bète noir the Anthropological Soc., having any thing to do with it, may not cause our best men of science to withdraw their support & contributions.⁸

I have read Tyler & am reading Lecky. ⁹ I found the former somewhat disconnected, & unsatisfactory from the absence of any definite result or any decided opinion on most of the matters treated of.

Lecky I like much, though he is rather tedious & obscure at times. Most of what he says has been said so much more forcibly by Buckle whose work I have read for the second time with increased admiration although with a clear view of some of his errors.¹⁰ Nevertheless his is I think unapproachably the grandest work of the present century, & the one most likely to liberalise opinion.

Lubbock’s book is very good, but his concluding chapter very weak.¹¹ Why are men of science so dreadfully afraid to say what they think & believe?

In reply to your kind enquiries about myself, I can only say that I am ashamed of my own laziness. I have done nothing lately but write a paper on Pigeons for the “Ibis”,¹² & am drawing up a Catalogue of my Collection of Birds.¹³

As to my “Travels” I cannot bring myself to undertake them yet, & perhaps never shall, unless I should be fortunate enough to get a wife who would incite me thereto & assist me therein,—which is not likely.¹⁴

I am glad to hear that the “Origin” is still working its revolutionary way, on the Continent.¹⁵ Will Mueller’s book on it, be translated?¹⁶

I am glad to hear you are a little better. My poor friend Spruce is still worse than you are, & I fear now will not recover. He wants to write a book if he gets well enough.¹⁷

With best wishes Believe me | Dear Darwin | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace

C. Darwin Esq.