Ɛpsilon

WCP3159

Letter (WCP3159.3127)

[1]1

16 Lower Cathedral Road,

'Cardiff'

July 5. /95.

A.R. Wallace Esq DCL. &c

Respected and -

Dear Sir,

Having your most interesting works "Island Life"2 southern "Archipelago"3 and "Australasia",4 I am anxious to know if you were the same Mr Alfred Wallace that taught in Science Classes — Evenings — to the working engineers and Artificers of "Neath" Abbey and 'Neath' in South Wales Glamorgan [2] with Mr Jevons5 who with other Gentlemen built the Institute about the years — 1845 to 1850 1848.

I have often while reading "Spiritualism" had a desire to know as I benefited more while in your Class — if you are the same — Mr A Wallace — in practical [3] Mechanics Thermo Dynamics Statics &c &c than I ever was taught at School and I have often wished I knew how to thank you or the teachers of the Neath Mechanics-Institute for the Good I and others received from them[.]

I suppose Mr Jevons and the Elder promoters of the [4] work are dead[.] Mr Alfred Curtis6 who was afterwards Town Clerk of Neath who was an Earnest worker and Arithmetician is dead with many others[.] Will you be pleased to pardon Me for asking if you were tutor of my youth as I wish so much to thank if so and trust you may be preserved many years[.]

I am dear Sir | Your obedient and Grateful Servant | Matthew Jones7[signature]

1
In ARW’s handwriting, "Answd". The letter has not been found.
2
Wallace, A. R. 1880. Island Life: Or, The Phenomena and Causes of Insular Faunas and Floras, Including a Revision and Attempted Solution of the Problem of Geological Climates. London: Macmillan & Co..
3
Wallace, A. R. 1869. The Malay Archipelago: The land of the orang-utan, and the bird of paradise. A narrative of travel, with studies of man and nature. London: Macmillan and Co. Two volumes.
4
Wallace, A. R. ed. 1879.Australasia. Stanford’s compendium of geography and travel: based on Hellwald’s ‘Die Erde und ihre Völker’. Edited and extended by Alfred R. Wallace, F.R.G.S., Author of the ‘Malay Archipelago,’ ‘Geographical distribution of animals,’ etc. With Ethnological appendix by A.H.
5
Jevons, William (1794-1873). British. Owner of the Cwmgwrach Venallt Iron Works; a co-founder of the Neath Mechanics' Institute.
6
Curtis, Alfred (?-1886). Town clerk of Neath, Glamorganshire and clerk to the borough and county justices 1866-1886.
7
Jones, Matthew (-). Workman who attended the Neath Mechanics' Institution.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3159.3127)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by O'Dell, Sandra [2015-04-23] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2015-04-23] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Published letter (WCP3159.6911)

[1] [p. 135]

In 1895 I received a letter from Cardiff, from one of the workmen who attended the Neath Mechanics' Institution,1 asking if the author of "Island Life,"2 the "Malay Archipelago,"3 and other books is the same Mr. Alfred Wallace who taught in the evening science classes to the Neath Abbey artificers. He writes — "I have often had a desire to know, as I benefited more while in your class — if you are the same Mr. A. Wallace — than I ever was taught at school. I have often wished I knew how to thank you for the good I and others received from your teaching. — (Signed) MATTHEW JONES."

1
South Wales institution formed in 1843 to provide education and reading materials for local people. ARW lectured there and designed its building in 1847.
2
Wallace, A. R. (1880) 'Island Life: Or, The Phenomena and Causes of Insular Faunas and Floras, Including a Revision and Attempted Solution of the Problem of Geological Climates' London, UK: Macmillan & Co.
3
Wallace, A.R. (1869) 'The Malay Archipelago: The land of the orang-utan, and the bird of paradise. A narrative of travel, with studies of man and nature' 2 Vols. London, UK: Macmillan

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP3159.6911)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Paterson, Gavin [2020-03-23]

Please cite as “WCP3159,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3159