Alfred Russel Wallace 



writing, I cannot doubt that you will make an excellent 

 book. — Believe me, dear Wallace, yours sincerely, 



Ch. Darwin. 



P.S. — A great gun, Flourens, has written a little dull 

 book against me; which pleases me much, for it is plain 

 that our good work is spreading in France. He speaks of 

 the engouement about this book, ** so full of empty and 

 presumptuous thoughts.'' 



Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E. January 29, 1865. 



My dear Wallace, — I must ease my mind by saying how 

 much I admire the two papers you have sent me. 



That on parrots' contained most new matter to me, and 

 interested me extremely; that in the Geographical Journal' 

 strikes me as an epitome of the whole theory of geographi- 

 cal distribution : the comparison of Borneo and New Guinea, 

 the relation of the volcanic outbursts and the required sub- 

 sidence, and the comparison of the supposed conversion of 

 the Atlantic into a great archipelago, seemed to me the three 

 best hits. They are both indeed excellent papers. — Believe 

 me yours very sincerely, Charles Darwin. 



Do try what hard work will do to banish painful 

 thoughts.' 



P.S. — During one of the later French voyages, a wild pig 

 was killed and brought from the Aru Islands to Paris. Am 

 I not right in inferring that this must have been introduced 

 and run wild ? If you have a clear opinion on this head, may 

 I quote you ? 



» " Read June, 1864."— A. R. W. 



« " June 8, 1864."— A. R. W. 



• '* Referring to my broken engagement." — A. R. W. 



160 



