Hoping you are in better health, believe me, dear Darwin, yours faithfully,
_9 St. Mark's Crescent, N.W. September 5, [1868?]._
Dear Darwin,--It will give me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation for next Saturday and Sunday, and my wife would very much like to come too, and will if possible. Unfortunately, there is a new servant coming that very day, and there is a baby at the mischievous age of a year and a quarter to be left in somebody's care; but I daresay it will be managed somehow.
I will drop a line on Friday to say if we are coming the time you mention.--Believe me yours very faithfully,
My dear Darwin,--My wife has arranged to accompany me to-morrow, and we hope to be at Orpington Station at 5.44, as mentioned by you.--Very truly yours,
_Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E. September 16, 1868._
My dear Wallace,--The beetles have arrived, and cordial thanks: I never saw such wonderful creatures in my life. I was thinking of something quite different. I shall wait till my son Frank returns, before soaking and examining them. I long to steal the box, but return it by this post, like a too honest man.
I am so much pleased about the male musk Callichroma; for by odd chance I told Frank a week ago that next spring he must collect at Cambridge lots of Cerambyx moschatus, for as sure as life he would find the odour sexual!
You will be pleased to hear that I am undergoing severe distress about protection and sexual selection: this morning I oscillated with joy towards you; this evening I have swung back to the old position, out of which I fear I shall never get.
I did most thoroughly enjoy my talk with you three gentlemen, and especially with you, and to my great surprise it has not knocked me up. Pray give my kindest remembrances to Mrs. Wallace, and if my wife were at home she would cordially join in this.--Yours very sincerely,
I have had this morning a capital letter from Walsh of Illinois; but details too long to give.
Among Wallace's papers was found the following draft of a letter of his to Darwin:
_9 St. Mark's Crescent, N.W. September 18, 1868._
Dear Darwin,--The more I think of your views as to the colours of females, the more difficulty I find in accepting them, and as you are now working at the subject I hope it will not interrupt you to hear "counsel on the other side."