WCP193

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Octr 28th. 1908

My dear Will¹

I send you now a copy of the "Life".²You can have one for your friend in Middlesborough also if you like. It is very neatly got up. Mr. Waugh³ 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 lecture⁴ at the Roy. 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. Crookes⁵ — 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]