WCP1563

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne,

Decr 26th 1908

My dear Miss Macdonald¹

Many thanks for your useful Xmas present & for your kind wishes previously which I fear I did not acknowledge at the time as your address was mislaid.

I have got over all the "honorary"² troubles as well as I could possibly expect — & the greatest trouble & anxiety of all which hung over me for weeks, was the [2] alleged necessity of going up to London, getting a Court (fools or footman's) suit of clothes, & going to Court to be "invested" by the King's hand — "on my knees"!

This was happily averted — at my earnest supplication (like a criminal asking pardon) on grounds of age and delicate health — by the King "graciously" sending one of his Equerries (a Colonel Legge,³ a very nice man) with the "order", which he duly hung around my neck in the King's name.

He had just half an hour here — we gave him a cup of tea, [3] we had some pleasant talk — & off he went.

The "order" is a gold & enamel cross — hung from a crown at top by a rich crimson & blue ribband. ^{To be worn round the neck just below the neck-tie.} I propose — as a duty — to wear it once in public, at a lecture I have to give at the Royal Institution on January 22nd on "The World of Life"⁴ — as interpreted by Darwinism.

I am doubtful if my voice will be heard — if not the Secretary will read the address & I shall show myself!

Should you be in London then I can give you tickets for self [4] & friend.

With best wishes for the New Year[.]

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace⁵