Astronomy 



into the solid state. Hence I adopt the meteoric theory 

 instead of the nebular; since all the evidence is in favour 

 of solid matter being abundant all through known space, 

 while there is no evidence of metallic gases existing in 

 space, except a-s the result of collisions of huge masses of 

 matter. Is my difficulty a mare's nest ? — Yours very truly, 



Alfred R. Wallace. 



To Mrs. Fisher 

 Broadatane, Wimbome. February 28, 1905. 



Dear Mrs. Fisher, — Thanks for your letter. Am sorry 

 I have not converted you, but perhaps it will come yet ! I 

 will only make one remark as to your conclusion. 



I have not attempted to prove a negative! That is not 

 necessary. What I claim to have done is, to have shown 

 that all the evidence we have, be it much or little, is de- 

 cidedly against not only other solar planets having inhabit- 

 ants, but also, as far as probabilities are concerned, equally 

 against it in any supposed stellar planets — for not one has 

 been proved to exist. There is absolutely no evidence which 

 shows even a probability of there being other inhabited 

 worlds. It is all pure speculation, depending upon our 

 ideas as to what the universe is for, as to what we think 

 (some of us I) ought to be ! That is not evidence, even of 

 the flimsiest. All I maintain is that mine is evidence, 

 founded on physical probabilities, and that, as against no 

 evidence at all — no proved physical probability — mine holds 

 the field !— Yours very truly, Alfred R. Wallace. 



To Mr. E. Smedley 



Broadstone, Dorset. July 24, 1907. 



Dear Mr. Smedley, — ... I write chiefly to tell yoo 

 that I have read Mr. Lowell's last book, " Mars and its 



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