1857.] ARGUMENT FROM DOMESTICATION. 95 



degree : yet, if I know myself, I would work just as hard, 

 though with less gusto, if I knew that my book would be 

 published for ever anonymously."] 



C. Darwin to A. R. Wallace. 



Moor Park, May ist, 1857. 



MY DEAR SIR, I am much obliged for your letter of 

 October loth, from Celebes, received a few days ago ; in a 

 laborious undertaking, sympathy is a valuable and real en- 

 couragement. By your letter and even still more by your 

 paper * in the Annals, a year or more ago, I can plainly see 

 that we have thought much alike and to a certain extent have 

 come to similar conclusions. In regard to the Paper in the 

 Annals, I agree to the truth of almost every word of your 

 paper ; and I dare Say that you will agree with me that it is 

 very rare to find oneself agreeing pretty closely with any 

 theoretical paper ; for it is lamentable how each man draws 

 his own different conclusions from the very same facts. This 

 summer will make the 2Oth year (!) since I opened my first 

 note-book, on the question how and in what way do species 

 and varieties differ from each other. I am now preparing my 

 work for publication, but I find the subject so very large, that 

 though I have written many chapters, I do not suppose I 

 shall go to press for two years. I have never heard how long 

 you intend staying in the Malay Archipelago ; I wish I might 

 profit by the publication of your Travels there before my 

 work appears, for no doubt you will reap a large harvest of 

 facts. I have acted already in accordance with your advice 

 of keeping domestic varieties, and those appearing in a state 

 of nature, distinct ; but I have sometimes doubted of the 

 wisdom of this, and therefore I am glad to be backed by your 

 opinion. I must confess, however, I rather doubt the truth 



* " On the Law that has regulated the Introduction of New Species." 

 Ann. Nat. Hist., 1855. 



