WCP2136

[1]¹

6 Magdelen Yard Road.

Dundee

N.B.

Dec 17. 99

To Alfred Russel Wallace Esq

Dear Sir

I ask to be excused addressing you.

I have just finished reading the "Wonderful Century",² the first half of which is so encouraging & the second equally depressing — giving much sad thought.

I think it a most valuable work & will circulate it among my friends — have sent it first to our Sheriff.

I write to refer to two subjects: First: I am surprised [2] to find no mention of the population question, which, hitherto, I have found mentioned in every book I have read on the subject of improvement of the condition of the working & lower classes as a difficulty & indeed a complete obstacle, the numbers ^{it is said} increasing with the means & keeping them on the old level of want & degradation.

Do you consider this a fallacy? If [sic] should be glad to know if it can be so regarded by any enlightened friend of amelioration as I have sometimes an opportunity to express opinions, by speech or writing, to a few & like to have ^{know of} new or nullifying views.

[3]

The second subject is the smaller one & more practical of the match trade, & the diseased jaw it produces; I understand that the manufacturer of the Safety matches of Bryant & May produces no microns (This was brought out in trial as regards Compensation to a worker of theirs, a maker of the injurious sort.)

No doubt other makers make this non-injurious kind. The difficulty is that the public will demand the injurious sort — those "striking" anywhere.

Now could not this be stopped by legislation? There is a second motive to strengthen the movement, i.e. the prevention of Fire, especially at ship-building [4] yards & Farms of which in Fife & Forfarshire have an extraordinary number. To exclude smoking is good but to exclude dangerous matches would be better. Insurance Companies might make some rule to restrict their use, or, to go back to legislation, a tax on the dangerous sort might check their use by [illeg.] or philanthropic societies ^generally might keep the matter before the public in some imprecise way if shown how necessary it was in interest of the workers.

With the compliments of the season I remain | Yours respectfully | (Miss) Ellen Monro Miller [signature]

P.S. Perhaps I may add I am a niece of the late Robert Miller³ (Chester St) Edinburgh with whom, I think, you had some acquaintance.