Alfred Russel Wallace 



attentively, and have really been quite as mucli staggered 

 by the wonderful adaptations you show to exist in them as 

 by the Eye in animals or any other complicated organs. I 

 long to get into the country and have a look at some orchids 

 guided by your new lights, but I have been now for ten days 

 confined to my room with what is disagreeable though far 

 from dangerous — boils. 



I have been reading several of the Reviews on the 

 ** Origin,' ' and it seems to me that you have assisted those 

 who want to criticise you by your overstating the difficulties 

 and objections. Several of them quote your own words as 

 the strongest arguments against you. 



I think you told me Owen wrote the article in the 

 Quarterly, This seems to me hardly credible, as he speaks 

 so much of Owen, quotes him as such a great authority, 

 and I believe even calls him a profound philosopher, etc. 

 etc. Would Owen thus speak of himself ? 



Trusting your health is good, I remain, my dear Mr. 

 Darwin, yours very faithfully, Alfred R. Wallace. 



Down, Bromley y Kent, S.E. May 24, 1862. 



My dear Mr. Wallace, — I write one line to thank you for 

 your note and to say that the Bishop of Oxford^ wrote the 

 Quarterly Review (paid £60), aided by Owen. In the Edin- 

 Imrgh Owen no doubt praised himself. Mr. Maw's Review 

 in the Zoologist is one of the best, and staggered me in parts, 

 for I did not see the sophistry of parts. I could lend you 

 any which you might wish to see; but you would soon be 

 tired. Hopkins and Pictet in France are two of the best. 



I am glad you approve of my little Orchid book; but it 

 has not been worth, I fear, the ten months it has cost me : 

 it was a hobby-horse, and so beguiled me. 



I am sorry to hear that you are suffering from boils; I 



^Dr. Samuel Wilberforce. 

 144 



