2110-2-8-6

private

4, CARLTON GARDENS, PALL MALL, S.W.

ay 2nd3rd, 1913.

My dear Mr Buchan

You are quite right about the suggestiveness of Poincaré's work. I have not yet read all the volumes you mention, but I have read some of them, and with the greatest admiration and interest.

Do you think you are right in supposing British thinkers to be ignorant of his work, or indifferent to it? You compare his reputation to Bergson's; but you must remember that Poincaré, though the most philosophic of physicists, is not a philosopher in the sense that Bergson is. He does not pretend, so far as I know, to go outside the region of Natural Science. It is true that he treats this in a thor-oughly philosophic fashion; but the number of people who are interested in this department of philosophic thought is limited. Moreover, Poincaré, like all good philosophers, asks more questions than he answers. This annoys the physicists, and yet gives no great pleasure to the metaphysicians!

As regards your suggestion that I should write a preface, I hope you will forgive me if I decline. I have looming before me the terrors of my Gifford Lectures; - which (owing to Autumn Sessions and other things) I have had no time to prepare, but which have to be delivered, nevertheless, in January. I am try-ing to cut down all outside work to the narrowest possible limits, but with limited success.

Yours sincerely

Arthur James Balfour