William's news (from the USA) that he has moved to better accommodation, ARW thinks the dogs and cats there will keep away any small mammals he wants to catch; sending a paper with news of Conway's ascent of Mount Sorata in the Andes; sending Black's Princess of Thule for William Greenell Wallace's birthday; Tommy Atkins now in a shilling edition; the author of Tomorrow (Ebenezer Howard) has sent his book describing the ideal garden city, good review in The Clarion but ARW fears the plan will be suppressed by speculators; news of Tesla's experiments with wireless telegraphy, claims he will work machinery in Paris by power from Niagara; drains at house being connected, problems, cost and method described; cleverness of "Whatnot" and "Bezique" in the The Clarion; reading Dangles? Old Cockaigne; detailed description of method of digging a trench, with planking diagram, Colonel Nichols says tunnels in India made with box frames (diagram); hopes William has got some skeletons by now. Annie's postscript (unsigned) written at right angles to the text by ARW, on the last page of the first of two folios, sends William birthday and new year greetings, and news of local Christmas shopping; plants in flower; photos from Ananda in Ceylon, hopes he will return alive; sale of Ardmore (house).

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.

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.

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.

Talks about William starting work at Woolwich, advising him on type and cost of lodgings, behaviour at work and need to thank Davis, Meldola and Professor Thompson for help; orchids from Natal received from Canon Usherwood; work on index to Australia book (presumably Stanford's Compendium of Geography and Travel. Australasia, Vol.1, Australia and New Zealand. New Issue, London 1893); Prof Perry's book on spinning tops; Ma's (William's mother Annie Wallace) visit to Malvern; Mr Ponton's pin-hole photography in France; Mrs Crump; Aunt Fanny.

Writes about William's friendship with [Portheim] at Siemens; sister Violet; William's mother's query as to the fate of a medal.

Writes about the arrival of William's medal and certificate [possibly from the Society of Electrical Engineers], sending them on to him to show people at Hurst, letter from William's Portsmouth friend will be sent on also; ARW's preference for the head of Galvani or some other electrical scientist rather than the Prince of Wales on the medal; William's progress at work; Miss McDonald arriving for Christmas; sister Violet's career prospects; William's return to Charlton; King & Co's [Scufi] Album [stamp album] not yet out.

House alterations; Mr Sharpe's illness; William's college studies.

Writes regarding sending £20 for William's birthday; family health; arrival of a circular from college [Finsbury Technical College]; Violet going to Liverpool to interview for a teaching position in a girl's school, salary offered, advantages of living in Liverpool; ARW's purchase of Chambers' Encyclopaedia; new stamp album; ARW's article on "Inaccessible Valleys" in the Nineteenth Century, re-reading Lorna Doone; complete works of Dickens for Ma's (William's mother Annie Wallace) birthday and Scott's novels for Violet; Ponton's shilling pin-hole camera.

Regarding Mr Crooke's behaviour towards William; enclosing a letter from his sister Violet (not present); mentioning Mr Stead and (spirit?) writing.

Includes a recent journey by William; Mac's health; William's preparations for a voyage to America, advice on his visiting Meldola and spending Sharpe's present of money; suggestion he visit the House of Commons to observe a session, enclosing cards (not present) of 2 members of the L.N. (Land Nationalisation) Society; regards to the Hayward's.

Discusses William's letter of December 16th [1898] and his plans for winter in America, advice to go south to New Mexico; comments on his news of Mac; Mac's coal-measuring machine; plans for electric tram from Bournemouth to Poole, ARW objects to line through Parkstone; no electric light at Parkstone; damage to garden when drains connected; disadvantages of growing under glass; American papers Coming Nation, American Fabian and The Commonwealth; The Clarion, McGinnis, Robert Blatchford; plans to start work in about a years time on new edition of Wonderful Century and to start autobiography soon; Violet at the Schulz's, enclosing some verses by her and a card from her showing villages near Pössneck (neither present).

House-alterations; death of Mr Barnes's grandson; Mr Sharpe's illness; William's visit to Mr [Livinton].

House alterations; books ordered for William; Mr Sharpe's illness; William's studies.

House alterations; American railways; inventions.

No summary available.

Illness of William's mother Annie Wallace; William's studies; house alterations; Clarke's patent syphon gas stove; new electric railway under the Thames.

House alterations; proposed visit to ARW with sister Violet; Maudesley; Life of Nasmyth.

An enclosed letter (not present); house alterations; William's sister Violet; health of Mr Sharpe; weather.

An enclosure (not present); house alterations; the Buxton family; suggestion William join Institute of Electrical Engineers; Mr Cockerell collecting shells; William's sister Violet's postal address.