Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace were unaware of this work when they jointly published the theory in 1858, but Darwin later acknowledged that Wells had recognised the principle before them, writing that the paper "An Account of a White Female, part of whose Skin resembles that of a Negro" was published in 1818, and "he distinctly recognises the principle of natural selection, and this is the first recognition which has been indicated; but he applies it only to the races of man, and to certain characters alone."
Darwin e Alfred Russel Wallace non coñecían este traballo cando publicaron conxuntamente a teoría en 1858, pero Darwin posteriormente recoñeceu que Wells identificara os principios antes ca el, e escribiu que o artigo "An Account of a White Female, part of whose Skin resembles that of a Negro" foi publicado en 1818, e "el claramente recoñeceu o principio de selección natural, e este é o primeiro recoñecemento que foi indicado; pero el aplícao só ás razas dos homes, e só a certas características."