Dear Sir,

I have found considerable difficulty in getting a thoroughly competent reviewer of M^r. Wallace’s recent book for ‘the Academy’, because I was unwilling to trouble you with a request to do it.² Mr. Bates however, with whom I have been sitting this afternoon has led me to hope that as the book contains a new chapter in which the application of your great theory to man is directly called in question, you might be induced to criticize this portion of it with some detail.³

The rest of the book being mainly composed of old essays requires little beyond a description of its contents, & a statement how far the views are up to the mark of present knowledge. The smaller additions & emendations, the references to which are collected together in the preface, sh^d. be cursorily noticed, but the main stress of the criticism sh^d. be made to bear upon the heretical chapter. Indeed I w^d. not mind having this noticed exclusively.

As to time I have no desire to hurry you: take your own time to write down the views which you no doubt have already formed respecting this chapter. But a review from you, & on such a subject will be such a treat for my readers that I really do trust that you will not refuse my request. The little note you sent me for No I was most acceptable & did much good to the Journal.⁴

Believe me D^r Sir | Very truly yours | C. Appleton | Editor.

C. Darwin Esq.