Thus ended one of the most interesting and memorable episodes in the history of science. It was sufficiently remarkable that two naturalists in widely-separated lands should have independently arrived at the theory which was to be the turning-point in the history of biology and of many other sciences--although such simultaneous discoveries have been known before; it was still more remarkable that one of the two should unknowingly have chosen the other to advise him upon the theory which was to be for ever associated with both their names. It was a magnificent answer to those who believed that the progress of scientific discovery implies continual jealousy and bitterness, that the conditions attending the first publication of the theory of natural selection were the beginning of a life-long friendship and of mutual confidence and esteem.[F]
It is justifiable to speak of this episode as the _beginning_ of Darwin’s and Wallace’s friendship, for the latter writes (February, 1895):--
“I had met him _once_ only for a few minutes at the Brit. Mus. before I went to the East.”
Later on Darwin, in his letters to Wallace, more than once alluded to the simultaneous publication of their essays. Thus he wrote, April 18th, 1869, congratulating Wallace on his article in the _Quarterly Review_ for that month:--
“I was also much pleased at your discussing the difference between our views and Lamarck’s. One sometimes sees the odious expression, ‘Justice to myself compels me to say,’ &c., but you are the only man I ever heard of who persistently does himself an injustice, and never demands justice. Indeed, you ought in the review to have alluded to your paper in the ‘Linnean Journal,’ and I feel sure all our friends will agree in this. But you cannot ‘Burke’ yourself however much you may try, as may be seen in half the articles which appear.”
And again, on April 20th of the following year, he wrote:--
“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.”