PART III {Concluded) 



III. — Correspondence on Biology, Geographical 

 Distribution, etc. 



[1894—1913] 



Herbert Spencer to A. R. Wallace 



Queen's Hotd, diftonviUe, Margate. August 10, 1894. 



Dear Mr. Wallace, — Though we differ on some points we 

 agree on many, and one of the points on which we doubtless 

 agree is the absurdity of Lord Salisbury's representation of 

 the process of Natural Selection ba«ed upon the improba- 

 bility of two varying individuals meeting. His nonsensical 

 representation of the theory ought to be exposed, for it will 

 mislead very many people. I see it is adopted by the Pall 

 Mall. I have been myself strongly prompted to take the 

 matter up, but it is evidently your business to do that. Pray 

 write a letter to the Times explaining that selection or sur- 

 vival of the fittest does not necessarily take place in the 

 way he describes. You might set out by remarking that 

 whereas he begins by comparing himself to a volunteer 

 colonel reviewing a regiment of regulars, he very quickly 

 changes his attitude and becomes a colonel of regulars re- 

 viewing volunteers and making fun of their bunglings. 

 He deserves a severe castigation. There are other points 

 on which his views should be rectified, but this is the 

 essential point. 



It behoves you of all men to take up the gauntlet he has 

 thrown down.— Very truly yours, Herbert Spencer. 



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