Alfred Russel Wallace 



I have heard from Miss Buckley that you have got pos- 

 session of your chalk pit, and I congratulate you on the 

 tedious delay being over. I fear all our bushes are so 

 large that there is nothing which we are at all likely to 

 grub up. 



Years ago we threw away loads of things. I should 

 very much like to see your house and grounds; but 

 I fear the journey would be too long. Going even to 

 Kew knocks me up, and I have almost ceased trying to 

 do so. 



Once again let me thank you warmly for your admirable 

 review. — My dear Wallace, j^ours ever very sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



What an excellent address you gave about Madeira, 

 but I wish you had alluded to LyelFs discussion on land 

 shells, etc. — not that he has said a word on the subject. 

 The whole address quite delighted me. I hear Mr. Crotch^ 

 disputed some of your facts about the wingless insects, but 

 he is a crotchety man. As far as I remember, I did not 

 venture to ask Mr. Appleton to get you to review me, but 

 only said, in answer to an inquiry, that you would un- 

 doubtedly be the best, or one of the very few men who could 

 do so effectively. 



Down, Beckenhanii Kent, S.E. March 24, 1871. 



My dear Wallace, — Very many thanks for the new edition 

 of your Essays. Honour and glory to you for giving list of 

 additions. It is grand as showing that our subject flourishes, 

 your book coming to a new edition so soon. My book also 

 sells immensely ; the edition will, I believe, be 6,500 copies. 

 I am tired with writing, for the load of letters which I 

 receive is enough to make a man cry, yet some few are curious 



1 G. Crotch was a well-known coleopterist and official in the University 

 Library at Cambridge. 



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