WCP193

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne

Oct 28th. 1908

My dear Will

I send you now a copy of the "Life". You can have one for your friend in Middlesborough also if you like. It is very neatly got up. Mr. Waugh tells me they are very much disappointed at the small number taken by the chief booksellers. But that is all his own fault — selling off hundreds of the 2 vol. ed. [2] so that it is still being sold at 7^s./- [.]

I have a rather surprising bit of new[s] for you. When I was almost at my worst, feeling very bad, I had a letter inviting me to give an evening lecture at the Roy[al] Institution — for their Jubilee of the "Origin of Species"!

Of course I decided at once to decline as impossible &c. having nothing new to say &c. &c. But a few hours afterwards an idea suddenly came to [3] me — for a very fine lecture — if I can work it out as I hope — and the more I thought ofver it the better it seemed. So, two days back I wrote to Sir W. Crookes¹— the Hon. Sec. who had written to me — accepting provisionally! The Lecture will be at the opening of their next Session — end of January — so there is plenty of time if I get quite well; and I am now feeling much better, & getting in my feed [4] again — only still very weak.

Crookes offers to read parts or all for me, & to help in any way with diagrams &c.

Here is another "crowning honour" — the most unexpected of all!

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]