26 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



PEESIDENTIAL ADDEESS, 1913. 



About two months ago when I was thinking over various possible- 

 subjects for this address, there arrived by post — just at the 

 psychological moment — an American pamphlet, sent by my friend, 

 our illustrious Eellow, Dr. Alfred Eussel Wallace. Accompanying- 

 the pamphlet was the following very kind letter, referring to 

 James Cowles Prichard's * anticipation of modern views on 

 evolution. 



Old Orchard, 



Broadstone, 



Dorset. 

 April 2, 1913. 

 My dear PouLTOisr, 



About two months ago an American sent me the enclosed 

 booklet, which he had been told was very rare and contained an 

 anticipation of Darwinism. 



This it certainly does, but the writer was highly imaginative, 

 and, like all the other anticipators of Darwin, did not perceive 

 the whole scope of his idea. 



His anticipation, however, oE diverging lines of descent from 

 a common ancestor and of the transmission of disease germs by 

 means of insects, are perfectly clear and very striking. 



As you yourself made known one of the anticipators of Darwin, 

 whom he himself had overlooked, you are the right person to 

 make this known in any way you think proper. As you have so 

 recently been in America, you might perhaps ascertain from the 

 Librarian of the Public Library in Boston or from some of your 

 biological friends there what is known of the M'riter and of his 

 subsequent history. 



If the house at Down is ever dedicated to Darwin's memory, 

 it would seem best to preserve this little book there ; if not you 

 can dispose of it as you think best. 

 With best wishes, 



Tours very truly, 



Alfred E. Wallace. 



Eeferring to the last paragraph, Dr. Wallace now agrees with 

 me that the library of the Linnean Society is the most appropriate 

 place for the work. 



The booklet had been sent, on Feb. 6, 1913, as a kind of 90tb 

 birthday present to Dr. Wallace, by Mr. B. E. Miller, an American 

 gentleman who has always taken a lively interest in the subject of 

 evolution. In a later letter, dated May 12, Mr. Miller writes to 

 me : — " I remember the bookseller I bought it of saying that it 



* Poulton's Essays on Evolution, Oxford, 1898, p. 173. Prichard's antici- 

 pation was discovered by the late Dr. Maurice Davis, J.P. 



