WCP1326

[1]

Isle of Wight

Aug[ust] 25^th 1904

Dear Mrs. Wallace,

Two days ago at the meeting of the Brit[ish] Ass[ociation] at Cambridge I met Mr. Cockerell¹ who told me that you were — as I imagined would be the case — very anxious that your husband sh[oul]d accept the generous [2] offer of Mr. John Collier² & he painted I presume for the Linnean society to hand beside the Darwin. I had not been rebuffed by his refusal & was only waiting to see what could be now done. But as I hear that you feel as I * you would I write to you for advice. [3] I had talked it over with Professor Meldola³ & he thought that a combined letter signed by many friends would produce the effect. What do you think of this? Or best of all may I leave it in your family? Could you let Mr. Collier stay in your house for the requisite 10 days as if not is there a [4] free mean where he would stay? I understand that it would be impossible for Dr. Wallace to go away from home for the purpose: although I imagine it would be easy to borrow a studio in Parkstone for the purpose if this would be at all feasible.

With kind regard sincerely | E.B. Poulton[signature]