Text Online
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Frederic William Henry Myers
Date:
14 November 1894
Source of text:
Natural History Museum, London: NHM WP2/6/3/3/16
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project
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With thanks for and criticism of Butler's books Life and Habit (1878) and Evolution Old and New (1879).
Letter from William (from USA), incident with cattle; William Greenell Wallace's failure to catch many (small mammals), ARW recommends using a jar or tip-up box trap (illustrated with ink sketch), catching mice in log hut, trying any pine woods for seed and kernel eaters; instructions to get to know local ranchers and ask for details about their mortgages, crops and living; Violet observing teaching in Germany, says it is far better than in England, now staying with Rektor Schulz; young Mr Acland [Ackland?] from England also there to learn German and study education; sending a "Chronicle" containing a letter by Conway about climbing in the Andes, Hard Cash by C. Reade and three photos taken by Miss Casey of the house, one showing altered Summer-house and Loop line path (none present); has given a talk and reading at the house on the Malays for schools; sudden death of Dr Allman; William Greenell Wallace's photos of his hunting trip very good.
Writes about his visits to London and Sevenoaks (Kent); meeting of Psychical Research Society.
Draft on ?Free Trade and ?Reciprocity.
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Drainage work on house; sale of Dr Allman's house; detailed advice on where William and Mac should go while in America, recommending visit to William's aunt and uncle (Mary and John Wallace) in California, cousin Herbert Assistant Engineer of Southern Railway and may get them work or rail passes; urges William to write a book on his return; recommends Wyckoff's articles on "The Workers" in Scribner's Magazine; birthday and new year greetings.
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William's letter from America describing Mack's (sic) machine; misinterpretation of ARW's letter, he does not think William wasting his time in America but should move somewhere more interesting; ARW's health better, asthmatic cough going away; planting in garden; search for details of Wallace Scottish ancestors and Greenell family for autobiography, information from headmaster of Hertford Grammar School; fate of three family portraits, Mr and Mrs Gorringe, the current owners of one of the architect William Greenell refuse permission for it to be photographed, asks William to intercede on his return; Miss Evans wants American stamps; William's finances; Socialism in America.
Thanks for Kropotkin's Life; feels strong similarity of his own early life to Kropotkin's despite differences of wealth, rank and country. Is also reading Whiteing's No. 5 John Street (1899).
Discusses Kropotkin's Life, which he has just finished reading.
Handwritten declaration by ARW, acting in official capacity as attorney to his brother John Wallace in the matter of rental income arising from a property in Albany Street which formed part of the estate of Michael Webster, father-in-law of John Wallace.
William's letters from America, death of his horse, snowshoes, severe winter in New York; "Ardmore" still not sold; gathering material for autobiography, does William know whereabouts of steel seal and inscription on family ring, intends to visit a Dorset clergyman who owns a painting of a member of the Wallace family and if possible photograph for the book; bulbs and seeds ordered for garden; apparent loss of books and magazines in post; William's intention to start a business in Bournemouth [with Ma]); ARW writing on white men in the tropics for the New York Independent; writing on Craig's History of Ralahine, Irish cooperative farm 1831-33, to publicise a successful experiment in Socialism.
Dora Best painting a portrait of ARW, possibly for sending to the Royal Academy; no more news about the Beaconsfield affair except that Prof Barrett and Dr Abraham Wallace will join it; William's sister Violet and May Swinton leaving tomorrow; beginning work on new edition of Wonderful Century; Mr Casey's latest enigma; reading Julie.
Hard frost damage to tender shrubs; word puzzle competition with $5,000 prize in an American paper.
Progress of house building [at "Old Orchard", Broadstone], workmen's shop put up in grounds by Percy Curtis who will mark foundations next week and begin excavating; Mr Donkin says plans ready to send to Mr Barnes and building committee; water mains laid to main road; greenhouse ordered from Cooper; plans to put stove under house to warm both it and greenhouse; William to remember acetylene and fire-brick; sending books Kim and one on Anglo-Saxon history, opinions of both.