Washington D. C.
U. S. A.
November 23, 1889
Dr. Alfred R. Wallace
Parkstone, England.
Dear Sir:
When I received your acknowledgment1 in the early spring of the receipt of the little book on "The new cosmology",2 which I provided to you on behalf of Hon. R. T. Van Horn3 of Kansas City, Mo., I should perhaps have at once replied; but at that time a pressure of engagements prevented. I now awake to the fact that I have been somewhat remiss in the fulfilment of a promise [2] made to Mrs. Hibbert,4 who loaned me your recent work on Evolution Darwinism.5 She fell very sick soon after I received it; and became unable to acknowledge your gift or your postal note of June 30th, which I engaged to do for her. I have kept the book for a long time in order to study it thoroughly. Within a few days however she inquired if I had written you according to agreement, and I was obliged to confess my negligence. There is some excuse for her, for after she had risen from her bed, the lingering languor that had followed her malady, made writing a drudgery; and besides she was under the impression that for her I had returned you her most hearty [3] thanks for your gift. Without further delay I try to apologize for myself and at the same time fulfil her renewed urgent request that I make her acknowledgments.
I am happy to say that she has now nearly recovered her usual health, but will in a few days go to New York, to add to her strength by a few weeks sojourn in a more tonic climate than we enjoy here. She may write you from that city.
During the hot summer I have had no good opportunity to study any mediumistic phenomena, or any other matters as I could wish other than such as pertain to ordinary business. But I have found time to greatly interest myself in your recent work.
I send this note merely as an apology.
[4] I hear that Mr. Armstrong’s6 nephew recently died at a summer resort in the north — a great blow to himself and wife. He was well when I last directly heard from him.
Very truly yours | D. Lyman7 [signature]
P. O. Box 702.
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3130.3098)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP3130,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on