But I groan over Man—­you write like a metamorphosed (in retrograde direction) naturalist, and you the author of the best paper that ever appeared in the Anthropological Review!  Eheu!  Eheu!  Eheu!—­Your miserable friend,

C. DARWIN.

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Down, Beckenham, Kent.  March 31, 1870.

My dear Wallace,—­Many thanks for the woodcut, which, judging from the rate at which I crawl on, will hardly be wanted till this time next year.  Whether I shall have it reduced, or beg Mr. Macmillan for a stereotype, as you said I might, I have not yet decided.

I heartily congratulate you on your removal being over, and I much more heartily condole with myself at your having left London, for I shall thus miss my talks with you which I always greatly enjoy.

I was excessively pleased at your review of Galton, and I agree to every word of it.  I must add that I have just re-read your article in the Anthropological Review, and I defy you to upset your own doctrine.—­Ever yours very sincerely,

CH.  DARWIN

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Down, Beckenham, Kent.  April 20, [1870].

My dear Wallace,—­I have just received your book ["Natural Selection"][81] and read the preface.  There never has been passed on me, or indeed on anyone, a higher eulogium than yours.  I wish that I fully deserved it.  Your modesty and candour are very far from new to me.  I hope it is a satisfaction to you to reflect—­and very few things in my life have been more satisfactory to me—­that we have never felt any jealousy towards each other, though in one sense rivals.  I believe that I can say this of myself with truth, and I am absolutely sure that it is true of you.

You have been a good Christian to give a list of your additions, for I want much to read them, and I should hardly have had time just at present to have gone through all your articles.

Of course, I shall immediately read those that are new or greatly altered, and I will endeavour to be as honest as can reasonably be expected.  Your book looks remarkably well got up.—­Believe me, my dear Wallace, to remain yours very cordially,

CH.  DARWIN

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Down, Beckenham, Kent, S.E.  June 5, 1870.

My dear Wallace,—­As imitation and protection are your subjects I have thought that you would like to possess the enclosed curious drawing.  The note tells all I know about it.—­Yours very sincerely,

CH.  DARWIN

P.S.—­I read not long ago a German article on the colours of female birds, and that author leaned rather strongly to your side about nidification.  I forget who the author was, but he seemed to know a good deal.—­C.D.