WCP1466

(1)

To Clement Reid, Esq.) Parkstone, Dorset. August 31st. 1895

My dear Clement Reid¹,

Many thanks for the Map of Bournemouth &c.— which is very interesting, & will be very useful to me. Also for the Spiranthes which I have planted in the dampest part of my Alpine bed. We were very sorry not to have our excursion, but it was very wet here on the Tuesday morning & when we sh’d not have started. Now all other days have been preengaged & my daughter & friend are returning to Liverpool on Monday. Unfortunately my wife has a very bad inflamed eye — a form of opthalmia, which requires treatment by an oculist & may not be well for weeks, so I am afraid we shall have no excursions this autumn.

The matter about Poole Harbcuris, that all the Poole Corporation & Harbour² board are afraid the Sandbanks will be washed a<w>ay & the har-bour ruined; and they are spending thousands of pounds in sea-walls & groins to prevent it; I believe it is a complete mare’s nest, & that not a penny need be spent. The perfectly symetrical[sic] curve of the line of coast from Hengistbury Head³ to Poole Harbour shows that there are steady currents acting on the shore & that the sandbanks are not receding any faster than the whole line of coast & cliffs. This is shown by the old as compared with the new ordnance.

And even should the sandbanks disappear in course of time I do not see that the entrance & channels of Poole Harbour would necessarily be injured. As you have been all along the South Coast I thought you might be able to give an opinion on the point. The "Committee" who have charge of the matter are Poole tradesmen who know absolutely nothing, but who think they must do something. I shall be glad to n hear what you think about it.

Yours very faithfully Alfred R.Wallace.

To Clement Reid, Esq.

Parkstone,

Dorset.

August 31st. 1895

My dear Clement Reid,

Many thanks for the Map of Bournemouth &c.— which is very interesting, & will be very useful to me. Also for the Spiranthes which I have planted in the dampest part of my Alpine bed. We were very sorry not to have our excursion, but it was very wet here on the Tuesday morning & when we sh’[oul]d not have started. Now all other days have been preengaged & my daughter & friend are returning to Liverpool on Monday. Unfortunately my wife has a very bad inflamed eye — a form of opthalmia, which requires treatment by an oculist & may not be well for weeks, so I am afraid we shall have no excursions this autumn.

The matter about Poole Harbcuris, that all the Poole Corporation & Harbour¹ board are afraid the Sandbanks will be washed away & the harbour ruined; and they are spending thousands of pounds in sea-walls & groins to prevent it; I believe it is a complete mare’s nest, & that not a penny need be spent. The perfectly symetrical[sic] curve of the line of coast from Hengistbury Head² to Poole Harbour shows that there are steady currents acting on the shore & that the sandbanks are not receding any faster than the whole line of coast & cliffs. This is shewn[sic] by the old as compared with the new ordnance.

And even should the sandbanks disappear in course of time I do not see that the entrance & channels of Poole Harbour would necessarily be injured. As you have been all along the South Coast I thought you might be able to give an opinion on the point. The "Committee" who have charge of the matter are Poole tradesmen who know absolutely nothing, but who think they must do something. I shall be glad to n hear what you think about it.

Yours very faithfully Alfred R. Wallace.