1872.] TROUBLES AT KEW. l6/ 



beloved for his courtesy and kindliness of heart ; and who has 

 spent in the public service not only a stainless but an 

 illustrious life." 



Happily this misfortune was averted, and Sir Joseph was 

 freed from further molestation.] 



C. Darwin to A. R. Wallace. 



Down, August 3 [1872]. 



MY DEAR WALLACE, I hate controversy, chiefly perhaps 

 because I do it badly ; but as Dr. Bree accuses you * of "blund- 

 ering," I have thought myself bound to send the enclosed 

 letter f to ' Nature/ that is, if you in the least desire it. In this 

 case please post it. If you do not at all wish it, I should 

 rather prefer not sending it, and in this case please to tear it 

 ,up. And I beg you to do the same, if you intend answering 

 Dr. Bree yourself, as you will do it incomparably better 

 than I should. Also please tear it up if you don't like the 

 letter. 



My dear Wallace, yours very sincerely, 



CH. DARWIN. 



* Mr. Wallace had reviewed Dr. man in the early part of his pedi- 



IBree's book, 'An Exposition of gree. As I have not seen Dr. 



Fallacies in the Hypothesis of Mr. Bree's recent work, and as his letter 



Darwin,' in 'Nature,' July 25, 1872. is unintelligible to me, I cannot 



f " Bree on Darwinism." ' Na- even conjecture how he has so 



ture,' Aug. 8, 1872. The letter is completely mistaken my meaning : 



as follows : " Permit me to state but, perhaps, no one who has read 



though the statement is almost Mr. Wallace's article, or who has 



superfluous that Mr. Wallace, in read a work formerly published by 



liis review of Dr. Bree's work, gives Dr. Bree on the same subject as 



with perfect correctness what I his recent one, will be surprised at 



intended to express, and what I any amount of misunderstanding on 



believe was expressed clearly, with his part. CHARLES DARWIN." 

 respect to the probable position of Aug. 3. 



