I am now reading Herbert Spencer’s “First Principles,” which seems to me a truly great work, which goes to the root of everything.

I hope you will be well enough to come to Cambridge.

I remain, my dear Mr. Darwin, yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

* * * * *

5 Westbourne Grove Terrace, W. January 14 [1863?].

My dear Mr. Darwin,—­I am very sorry indeed to hear you are still in weak health.  Have you ever tried mountain air?  A residence at 2,000 or 3,000 ft. elevation is very invigorating.

I trust your family are now all in good health, and that you may be spared any anxiety on that score for some time.  If you come to town I shall hope to have the pleasure of seeing you.

I am now in much better health, but find sudden changes of weather affect me very much, bringing on ague and fever fits.  I am now working a little, but having fresh collections still arriving from correspondents in the East, it is principally the drudgery of cleaning, packing, and arrangement.

On the opposite page I give all the information I can about the Timor fossils, so that you can send it entire to Dr. Falconer.

With best wishes for the speedy recovery of your health, I remain, my dear Mr. Darwin, yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

* * * * *

Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E.  January 1, 1864.

Dear Wallace,—­I am still unable to write otherwise than by dictation.  In a letter received two or three weeks ago from Asa Gray he writes:  “I read lately with gusto Wallace’s expose of the Dublin man on Bee cells, etc."[38]

Now though I cannot read at present, I much want to know where this is published, that I may procure a copy.  Further on Asa Gray says (after speaking of Agassiz’s paper on Glaciers in the Atlantic Magazine and his recent book entitled “Method of Study"):  “Pray set Wallace upon these articles.”  So Asa Gray seems to think much of your powers of reviewing, and I mention this as it assuredly is laudari a laudato.

I hope you are hard at work, and if you are inclined to tell me I should much like to know what you are doing.

It will be many months, I fear, before I shall do anything.

Pray believe me yours very sincerely,

CH.  DARWIN.

* * * * *

5 Westbourne Grove Terrace, W. January 2, 1864.

My dear Darwin,—­Many thanks for your kind letter.  I was afraid to write because I heard such sad accounts of your health, but I am glad to find that you can write, and I presume read, by deputy.  My little article on Haughton’s paper was published in the Annals of Natural History about August or September last, I think, but I have not a copy to refer to.  I am sure it does not deserve Asa Gray’s praises, for though the matter may be true enough, the manner I know is very inferior.  It was written hastily, and when I read it in the Annals I was rather ashamed of it, as I knew so many could have done it so much better.