Dear Darwin

I have sent your letter to “Nature”, as I think it will settle that question far better than anything I can say.¹ Many thanks for it. I have not seen D^r. Bree’s letter yet as I get “Nature” here very irregularly,—but as I was very careful to mention none but real errors in D^r. Bree’s book, I do not imagine there will be any necessity for my taking any notice of it.² It was really entertaining to have such a book to review, the errors & misconceptions were so inexplicable & the self sufficiency of the man so amazing. Yet there is some excellent writing in the book, and to a half informed person it has all the appearance of being a most valuable and authoritative work.

I am now reviewing a much more important book and one that, if I mistake not, will really compel you sooner or later to modify some of your views, though it will not at all affect the main doctrine of Natural Selection as applied to the higher animals. I allude of course to Bastian’s “Beginnings of Life”, which you have no doubt got.³ It is hard reading, but intensely interesting. I am a thorough convert to his main results, & it seems to me that nothing more important has appeared since your “Origin”. It is a pity he is so awfully voluminous & diffusive. When you have thoroughly digested it I shall be glad to know what you are disposed to think.

My first notice of it will I think appear in “Nature” next week,—but I have been hurried for it, & it is not so well written an article as I could wish.

I sincerely hope your health is improving.

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace—

P.S. I fear Lubbock’s motion is being pushed off to the end of the Session & Hookers case will not be fairly considered.⁴ I hope the matter will not be allowed to drop. | A.R.W.