ALFRED R. WALLACE.
Malvern Wells. Tuesday, March, 1864.
My dear Mr. Wallace,—Your kindness is neverfailing. I got worse and worse at home and was sick every day for two months; so came here, when I suddenly broke down and could do nothing; but I hope I am now very slowly recovering, but am very weak.
Sincere thanks about Melastoma: these flowers have baffled me, and I have caused several friends much useless labour; though, Heaven knows, I have thrown away time enough on them myself.
The gorse case is very valuable, and I will quote it, as I presume I may.
I was very glad to see in the Reader that you have been [pg 152]giving a grand paper (as I infer from remarks in discussion) on Geographical Distribution.
I am very weak, so will say no more.—Yours very sincerely,
C. DARWIN.
In Vol. I., p. 93, of the "Life and Letters of Charles Darwin," Darwin states the circumstances which led to his writing the "Descent of Man." He says that his collection of facts, begun in 1837 or 1838, was continued for many years without any definite idea of publishing on the subject. The letter to Wallace of May 28, 1864, in reply to the latter's of May 10, shows that in the period of ill-health and depression about 1864 he despaired of ever being able to do so.