CHAPTER VIII. DARWIN AND WALLACE (1858). The history of Darwin’s friendship with Alfred Russel Wallace is of quite unique interest, being brought about by the fact that both naturalists saw in evolution and its causes the great questions of the immediate future, and by the agreement in the interpretations which they independently offered. Wallace was collecting and observing in the Malay Archipelago, and wrote to Darwin as the one man most likely to sympathise with and understand his views and to offer valuable criticism. In the “Annals and Magazine of Natural History” for 1855, Wallace published a paper “On the Law that has Regulated the Introduction of New Species,” and in this and a letter written from the Malay Archipelago Darwin recognised the similarity of their views, although the completeness of this agreement was to be brought before him with startling force a year after his sympathetic reply, written May 1st, 1857. He then wrote:-- “By your letter and even still more by your paper in the Annals, a year or more ago, I can plainly see that we have thought much alike and to a certain extent have come to similar conclusions. In regard to the Paper in the Annals, I agree to the truth of almost every word of your paper; and I dare say that you will agree with me that it is very rare to find oneself agreeing pretty closely with any theoretical paper; for it is lamentable how each man draws his own different conclusions from the very same facts.” On December 22nd he replied to another letter from Wallace, again expressing agreement with all his conclusions except that upon the supposed continental extension to oceanic islands, on which, alluding to his previous discussion, he says:-- “You will be glad to hear that neither Lyell nor Hooker thought much of my arguments. Nevertheless, for once in my life, I dare withstand the almost preternatural sagacity of Lyell.” And he concludes with the wish-- “May all your theories succeed, except that on Oceanic Islands, on which subject I will do battle to the death.” He also said, as regards Wallace’s conclusions: “I believe I go much further than you; but it is too long a subject to enter on my speculative notions.” [Sidenote: WALLACE’S ESSAY.] Finally, on June 18th, 1858, Darwin received from Wallace a manuscript essay bearing the title “On the Tendency of Varieties to depart indefinitely from the Original Type.” Upon this essay he wanted Darwin’s opinion, and asked him, if he thought well of it, to forward it to Lyell. Darwin was startled to find in the essay a complete account of his own views. That very day he wrote to Lyell, enclosing the essay. In the letter he said:--