WCP2699

[1]^{1, 2, 3}

Lilley House

Lea Bridge Road

Leyton

March 6. 1894

Dear Dr. Wallace:

You will receive your proof this week. We have had to wait to see if we can add the Cardinal and one Bishop — just to keep us in touch with the church. I sent to Cardinal Saugham[?] what you wrote about Manning. He promised to write, but since shunted off.

Now look here. I am getting out a little book — it is all arranged — something in the lines of my "Why I am a Liberal" [2] I don't know the title, half possibly. "At the Making of a Greater Party." The plan is plain, however, I want about six larger essays and the others will be little page affairs. Now one of these six, I wish you to be. First of all, I thought I would take subjects and get you to write the essay on the Land Question, but on second reflections, I have pondered if it would be better reading to have a change, and let the essays be a sort of general deliverance, but at the same time thoroughly [3]⁴ useful. You have a very powerful vision and though like the proud old man, the eyes may not be so clear naturally as they were, spiritually I am sure they are stronger than ever.

I don't like to hear of your second chamber selected from baronets and [1 word illeg.].

Perhaps after all "the Land Question" will do best and be best for you. Now, of course, is just the time and you may be able to make a great political move, as them it will really be a "friendly lead" of the Liberal [4] Party.

I have myself altered my views about compensation. It will be a great mischief to create a money on paper autocracy. Every landlord unborn should be stopped being born —- this is how work put me. Meanwhile Parish Hiring I want only a short M.S. and I need it within three weeks. It should be paid for within a month from delivery. If it be any satisfaction, I can send you an £5 ₉ out of the £10 I owe you. Shall not have settlement as to Vox Clamantium till one month after date of publication.

Now this little book is only 2/6 or 3/6, and I am only allowed £40 to pay contributors with. [5]^{5, 6} I don't think I shall want any more than 20pp, say, of 200 words and for this I can give £10. I wish as much as possible for facts as well as general principles. E.g. It will make a great impression if you first show in a few lines than in older England we has land nationalisation. That in in[sic] over sea Britain — India that is — we have large state land. There is nothing like showing the Englishman & Scotsman, that it is done and is not "out of some head[.]" [6] Here is a change to land the Liberal party. I wish you to come out strongly. The question you deal with is the most unpleasant question of all. The House of Lords gone we shall be going at great speed, and I want the book to be a guide to the feet of the Party for a few years.

I should say the article might be like this:

1 Historical — Old Examples of State land tenure in England

Ditto Recent Examples now existing in India & elsewhere.

[7]⁷ 2 Historical How we have slipped into present system

very short.

3. Henry George Remedy

its limits &c.

3a The trade in Land — its folly &c.

Arthur Arnold's schemes out of date.

4. How to make easy the state slipping back into the ownership of the devil[?].

Be careful not to burden posterity with an elaborate debt!

Let me hear from you.

I am, with best regards | Yours very truly | Andrew Reid⁸[signature].

We are on the eve of great events!

A. Russel Wallace. Esq. [2 letters illeg.]

(send me some titles & names of books. P.T.O. [8] Of course don't be taking these orders from me — do as you like, but I am though only in mid-life, about the oldest Law [1 word illeg.] Reformer there is in this country. As a boy I worked with proles[?] time, got up great London conferences at [1 word illeg.] Rooms. Before such[?], I began a Preacher Union of Af^l[?] Labourers. & so in much more afterwards.