WCP1317

[1]¹

39 Grosvenor Park

Tunbridge Wells

March 1st 1904.

Dear M^r. Wallace,

In answer to your kind letter just received. I cannot trust my mem[ory]. for dates or numbers although events make a vivid and lasting impression, and therefore take for granted that it was M^r. W. G. W² at Neath in [18]39. I do not remember seeing you until [2] I saw you with a beetle net in your hand standing on the edge of a cattle pond on Mr. Rees's farm.

David Rees³

Very tall

Very delicate and pale.

Very muddy about the feet.

I herewith forward all the letters I have been able so far to sort out — only think how they have been knocked about.

You shall have all the gleanings as soon as they come to [3] hand. I may say the same of the drawings [.] I shall send you more as soon as I can find them. There is a beautiful small colored [sic] drawing of old Zion College church Interior I have not yet found & several others[.]

They might be valuable to you by suggesting dates & interesting events. I will send all as soon as possible. They are mixed up with a lot of other things.

With regard to Mr. Dogood's⁴ portrait it seems to me to be [4] exceedingly good, but no attention paid to the perspective[?] of the accessioner[?] — you might alter that or make ^a vignette of it. There is a very nice drawing you have made of Cadaxton church.

My monetary means are very short & L. Dodd⁵ has none in hand to give me — in the last 14 months I have had £2 " " of him. My incomings are so small although the work so inesessent [sic] that the rent will run on⁶ [5] and that is where I feel the pinch at present. If you would advance me a little I would do my best by repaying by work or cash when the season advances.

I hope you will get the two parcels safely & in good order.

I remain yours sincerely | Tho[ma]^s Sims⁷ [signature]

D^r. A. R. Wallace

I enclose a collotype of M^r. Haywards four on the Margam Abbey⁸ estate — taken [6]⁹ by me in 1850.

I have some of Neath Abbey taken about the same time. I wonder how the ruins look now.