The Wallace-Darwin Correspondence 



there seems to be among politicians and political economists 

 of the grand views and logical stability of his works. He 

 appears to me as far ahead of John Stuart Mill as J. S. M. 

 is of the rest of the world, and, I may add, as Darwin is 

 of Agassiz. The range of his knowledge is no less than its 

 accuracy. His nebular hypothesis in the last volume of his 

 essays is the most masterly astronomical paper I have ever 

 read, and in his forthcoming volume on Biology he is I 

 understand going to show that there is something else 

 besides Natural Selection at work in nature. So you must 

 look out for a ^' foeman worthy of your steel '' ! But per- 

 haps all this time you have read his books. If so, excuse 

 me, and pray give me your opinion of him, as I have 

 hitherto only met with one man (Huxley) who has read 

 and appreciated him. 



Allow me to say in conclusion how much I regret that 

 unavoidable circumstances have caused me to see so little 

 of you since my return home, and how earnestly I pray for 

 the speedy restoration of your health. — Yours most sincerely, 



Alfred E. Wallace. 



Malvern Wells. Tuesday , March, 1864. 



My dear Mr. Wallace, — Your kindness is neverfailing. I 

 got worse and worse at home and was sick every day for two 

 months ; so came here, when I suddenly broke down and could 

 do nothing ; but I hope I am now very slowly recovering, but 

 am very weak. 



Sincere thanks about Melastoma : these flowers have 

 baffled me, and I have caused several friends much useless 

 labour; though. Heaven knows, I have thrown away time 

 enough on them myself. 



The gorse case is very valuable, and I will quote it, as 

 I presume I may. 



I was very glad to see in the Reader that you have been 



15i 



