WCP2647

[1]

The cry of the People 205

Lament of Cona —¹

Fern Dell, Mickleham

Feb^y. 17. 1884

My dear Sir

I have read any line of your admirable volume a Land Naturalization, with the greatest interest and profit. I agree with every one of these arguments; — which are all incontrovertible and not as lucidly, but triumphantly [2] placed before the reader. They must convince and make converts of every unprejudiced who will attentively study this — with the sole view of arriving at the truth.

I am pleased to think on looking back at some of my own writings — this I have long been a labourer in the same cause. In addition to the Lament of Cona [3] to which I directed your attention in my last letter. I should like you to read the ‘Cry of the People’ to be found at page 205 of my Collected Poems — as marked at the top of the first page of this note — in which you will see this nearly forty years ago.

I saw and denounced the evils that the present system of land tenure inflicted upon the poor. —I am afraid that [4] age and ill health will not allow be to labour much further in the cause:— but what I can do;— I will do. — If my name is of any use to your Society — you are free to use it.

Believe me | with the mightiest esteem and regard | Yours most cordially

Chas Mackay² [signature]

A. Russel Wallace Esq

British Museum³