WCP2073

[1]

Port au Prince

May 9^th 1864

My dear Wallace.

I cannot answer your letter¹ by this packet, as we are in the throes of conspiracies &c &c or up to my neck in work. I may however observe that I shall be unable to give you any information about the character of this people, as if I praised them it could be [2] ascribed to flattery, if I blamed them I could not remain here in comfort. –

I am a member of the Anthropological Society and know D^r Hunt² well, he is quite wrong I think about the Mulattos being incapable of continuing their race, my impression is the exact contrary and I told him so one day when we were dining alone [3] together at the Derby.

As soon as I have time I will take a certain number of families and trace their descent for three generations and to avoid selection I will take the officials of the town or some other equally fair way. —

I have not seen the Reader post me one when you have one to spare.

By the way I may remark that the Mulattos are too [4] proud as a rule to marry with the blacks, and there are few whites here to affect the population and yet the Mulattos have greatly increased since the revolution.

This is not an answer to your letter only an acknowledgement.

Ever sincerely yours | Spenser St. John³ [signature]

Alfred Wallace Esq