202 MY LIFE 



which I went to receive in November, when I enjoyed the 

 hospitality of my friend Professor E, B. Poulton. The Latin 

 speech of the Public Orator on the occasion lias been trans- 

 lated for me by my friend Mr. Comcrford Casey, and I here 

 give a copy of the translation. 



Addressing the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors of the Uni- 

 versity of Oxford, the Public Orator spoke words to this 

 effect: 



" In that department of natural science which is concerned 

 with the accurate study of animals and plants, be well assured 

 that no living man has laboured more diligently and with 

 happier results than Alfred Russel Wallace. 



" For having wandered long in early life through the 

 forests of Brazil, and among those islands which lie beyond 

 the Golden Chersonese, and beneath a burning sun, he thought 

 out and explained with w r onderful insight the law according to 

 which (as learned men now believe) new species of animals 

 arise : namely, that a stronger and more vigorous offspring 

 is left behind by those individuals whom nature has, in some 

 way or other, best fitted to endure the vicissitudes of life. 

 Thus, in the course of ages, scions are produced which differ 

 more and more widely from the original stock. 



" When this law was discovered, almost simultaneously by 

 the distinguished naturalist, Charles Darwin, neither be- 

 grudged to the other his meed of praise ; and so high-minded 

 were they both that each was more desirous of discovering 

 new truths than of gaining credit for himself. 



' I need not enumerate the many and learned works which 

 Alfred Russel Wallace has published, since the facts which I 

 have related give him sufficient claim to the honorary degree 

 of Doctor of Civil Law which this University is about to 

 confer upon him." 



Finding my house at Godalming in an unsatisfactory situa- 

 tion, with a view almost confined to the small garden, the south 

 sun shut off by a house and by several oak trees, while exposed 

 to north and east winds, and wishing for a generally milder 



