Alfred Russel Wallace 



have had much talk about his Address. I am glad that 

 you will be there. 



It is real good news that your book is so advanced that 

 you are negotiating about its publication. 



With respect to dimorphic plants : it is a great puzzle, 

 but I fancy I partially see my way — too long for a letter 

 and too speculative for publication. The groundwork of 

 the acquirement of such peculiar fertility (for what you 

 say about any other distinct individual being, as it would 

 appear, sufficient, is very true) rests on the stamens and 

 pistil having varied first in relative length, as actually 

 occurs irrespective of dimorphism, and the peculiar kind 

 of fertility characteristic of dimorphic and the trimorphic 

 plants having been secondarily acquired. Pangenesis makes 

 very few converts : G. H. Lewes is one. 



I had become, before my nine weeks' horrid interrup- 

 tion of all work, extremely interested in sexual selection 

 and was making fair progress. In truth, it has vexed me 

 much to find that the further I get on, the more I differ 

 from you about the females being dull-coloured for pro- 

 tection. I can now hardly express myself as strongly 

 even as in the ^^ Origin.'' This has much decreased the 

 pleasure of my work. 



In the course of September, if I can get at all stronger, 

 I hope to get Mr. J, Jenner Weir (who has been wonder- 

 fully kind in giving me information) to pay me a visit, 

 and I will then write for the chance of your being able to 

 come and, I hope, bring with you Mrs. Wallace. If I 

 could get several of you together, it would be less dull for 

 you, for of late I have found it impossible to talk with any 

 human being for more than half an hour, except on extra- 

 ordinarily good days. — Believe me, my dear Wallace, ever 

 yours sincerely, Ch. Darwin. 



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