Really, what with the Tories passing Radical Reform Bills and the Church periodicals advocating Darwinianism, the millennium must be at hand.—­A.R.W.

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Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E.  January 22, 1869.

My dear Wallace,—­Your intended dedication pleases me much and I look at it as a great honour, and this is nothing more than the truth.  I am glad to hear, for Lyell’s sake and on general grounds, that you are going to write in the Quarterly.  Some little time ago I was actually wishing that you wrote in the Quarterly, as I knew that you occasionally contributed to periodicals, and I thought that your articles would thus be more widely read.

Thank you for telling me about the Guardian, which I will borrow from Lyell.  I did note the article in the Quarterly Journal of Science and put it aside to read again with the articles in Fraser and the Spectator.

I have been interrupted in my regular work in preparing a new edition[74] of the “Origin,” which has cost me much labour, and which I hope I have considerably improved in two or three important points.  I always thought individual differences more important than single variations, but now I have come to the conclusion that they are of paramount importance, and in this I believe I agree with you.  Fleeming Jenkin’s arguments have convinced me.[75]

I heartily congratulate you on your new book being so nearly finished.—­Believe me, my dear Wallace, yours very sincerely,

CH.  DARWIN.

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9 St. Mark’s Crescent, N.W.  January 30, 1869.

Dear Darwin,—­Will you tell me where are Fleeming Jenkin’s arguments on the importance of single variation?  Because I at present hold most strongly the contrary opinion, that it is the individual differences or general variability of species that enables them to become modified and adapted to new conditions.

Variations or “sports” may be important in modifying an animal in one direction, as in colour for instance, but how it can possibly work in changes requiring co-ordination of many parts, as in Orchids for example, I cannot conceive.  And as all the more important structural modifications of animals and plants imply much co-ordination, it appears to me that the chances are millions to one against individual variations ever coinciding so as to render the required modification possible.  However, let me read first what has convinced you.

You may tell Mrs. Darwin that I have now a daughter.

Give my kind regards to her and all your family.—­Very truly yours,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E.  February 2, 1869.