WCP1320

[1]¹

39 Grosvenor Park

Tunbridge Wells

May 7th 1904.

Dear Mr. Wallace,

Since last writing to you I have had a good search for any scraps that might be useful to you in reference to dates, and herewith forward such gleanings as I could find. I do not think that I have a single bit left now.

What you say in your last letter about there being no inscription on the fam[ily]. tomb of M^r. J. Roberts has haunted [2] me. You know that Surr[e]y Roberts survived his Father only 3 or 4 years² and that difference in time is hardly sufficient to account for [the] obliteration of letters (as far as I can remember) cut in stone? It seems to me that I saw the dates and names of Father & son, many years ago when going to Ashstead church, but perhaps not, it is so long ago. If however my memory does not play me a trick, the letters were cut in stone & filled with black paint.

At any rate you might get a copy of the registration [3] of the burial from the Ashstead books by looking to the date of Surrey['s] burial & referring back 4 years or thereabout.

I suppose the Gorringes are gone to reside on their estate in Ireland in the county of Donegal. The house stands about a mile from the Atlantic nice[l]y[?] sheltered by woods, and favorable for farming. It was left Mr Gorringe by his mother but greatly in debt. This stimulated [h]is natural desire for money, and it was his [4] one great object in life to free his estate from debt.

This is the other side of the romance.

There is a great mystery about the affair, that is I expect beyond the possibility now of any explanation.

I remain | yours sincerely | Tho[ma]^s. Sims³ [signature]

Dr A. R. Wallace.