WCP2655

[1]

Guernsey

18th March 1884

My dear Dr Wallace

I had pleasure in receiving the Christ. Soc. as a reminder of you. I had already read your letter¹ in it as I take both it & Today — though agreeing with very little in either.

I think you are clearly right in your doctrine about interest² — but there is no possibility of arguing on the subject with those who as Socialists deny the [2] right to hold property at all. But I am afraid I must continue to diverge from you in your after argument, for I am as far as ever from seeing that there would be a public benefit in making the existing tenants of land, no matter how extensive, into owners.³ My aim as you know is rather to have no extensive properties but to have land subdivided till it is tilled by its owners & not by hired labourers.⁴ However tis needless to fight our old battles again!

I send you however a [3] little all-round Radicalism in some of which I hope you will agree. I should like to get the people to consider seriously its power — & its duties — & if it should on such consideration decide against any of my doctrines I will very cheerfully bow to the decision.

We are just preparing to leave this land of small properties for good & all, & to take up our abode in Fife for probably the remainder of our lives. I have been obliged by the exigency of my own circumstances [4] to become "occupying owner" of two farms there — but as it has involved the eviction of two tenants I am not quite sure whether the end would according to your principles justify the means. However I know you will give me credit for acting justly according to my own rights. At present encumbered land owners are in great straits, for land will not sell & tenants will not bind themselves to any but very low rents — we must therefore try to help ourselves as best we can.

I hope we may sometime meet after being settled in the United Kingdom[.] My wife⁵ joins me in kindest remembrances to M^rs Wallace[.]⁶

Yrs sincerely | J Boyd Kinnear⁷ [signature]