Bateson left Liverpool for New York on 16th Dec. 1921. He travelled on to Canada, attending meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Toronto, 27-31 Dec. 1921, delivering the general address titled 'Evolutionary Faith and Modern Doubt' and the after dinner speech at the American Society of Zoologists’ symposium on orthogenesis. This was followed by a series of lectures at the University of Toronto, c.3-12 Jan. 1922. He then visited the USA, staying at the universities of Columbia, Yale and Michigan, delivering lectures on at least two occasions before returning to the UK on 4 Feb. 1922.

The letters to his wife Beatrice were written from RMS 'Scythia' and from New York, Toronto, Buffalo and New London. They include descriptions of both his work and travels. The letter of 20 Dec. 1921 includes mention of T.H. Morgan, an encounter with H.G. Wells, and descriptions of New York, with drawings of a shark and fish seen at the New York Aquarium (item 3 [3:1v]). Also included at the end of the sequence is a letter and newspaper cuttings (items 19-27 [20:1r]) relating to the address Bateson gave in Toronto, 27-31 Dec.1921.

For transcripts, see [MS Add.8634/A.47]. For further items relating to Bateson’s trip, see [MS Add.8634/F.3-F.7]. For Bateson's Toronto lectures, see [MS Add.8634/E.19-E.20].