WCP110

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

Oct[obe]^er. 17th. 1905

My dear Will

We have not had news of you for some days & hope you are progressing all right.

We had ice on the pond this morning, so winter is at hand. I am very busy as usual. The road is cut through & is predictable, & will be gravelled in a few days. Tom Harwood says he never in his life saw ground as dry — still no rain to penetrate the surface! The gate too is finished, and works well so far. We had to make a slight alteration in the latch, & have decided on a spring stop, which Clark is making, to reduce jar!

When the road is finished I have decided to [2] have a deep drain cut all along the back of the house to level of floor of cellar, & then along the front to empty in the gorse on rt.hand side of road near the first laburnum tree. It will cost with drain pipes and gravel above only about £7 — or £8 — & will intercept almost all the water which in wet seasons soaks under & through the foundations. I think it will be money well spent & I shall feel more comfortable as to the stability of the whole house.

I have had the first batch [3] of Reviews this morning — the usual style — butter, will a few drops of vinegar occasionally.

I enclose two of the best for your amusement. If you would like the book sent say so in your next.

I have started fires in the greenhouse. Ted keeps the fires going better than poor Pennington did, & the house feels warmer in consequence.

Since book was out of hand have been very busy reporting &c. & have a lot of fresh plants (orchids & air plants) [4] from La Plata, so have lots to do.

I am also writing my Essay on "Evolution & Character" — nearly finished it — but it is a very hard subject, & the conclusion is rather like that of the old Chapter on "The Snakes of Ireland" — (There are no snakes in Ireland) — so — I prove — that there has been (so far) no Evolution of Character! I think I have hit upon one or two new points in the discussion.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]