From A. R. Wallace [19 November 1873]¹

The Dell, Grays, Essex.

Wednesday morn^g.

Dear Darwin

Yours just received.² Pray act exactly as if nothing had been said to me on the subject. I do not particularly wish for the work, as besides being, as you say, tedious work, it involves a considerable amount of responsibility.³ Still I am prepared to do any literary work of the kind, as I told Bates some time ago, & that is the reason he wrote to me about it.⁴ I certainly think however that it would be in many ways more satisfactory to you if your son did it, & I therefore hope he may undertake it.⁵

Should he however, for any reasons, be unable, I am at your service as a derniére ressort—⁶

In case my meaning is not quite clear, I will say positively, I will not do it, unless your son has the offer & declines it.

Believe me | Dear Darwin | Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace

Footnotes

1

The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letters to A. R. Wallace, [18 November 1873] and 19 November [1873]. In 1873, 19 November was a Wednesday.

2

See letter to A. R. Wallace, [18 November 1873].

3

Wallace refers to the work needed to produce a second edition of Descent, detailed in the letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 November 1873.

4

Wallace refers to Henry Walter Bates (see enclosure to letter from H. W. Bates, 15 November 1873).

5

Wallace refers to George Howard Darwin; see letter to A. R. Wallace, [18 November 1873].

6

Derniére ressort: last resort (French).