Ɛpsilon

WCP3263

Letter (WCP3263.3231)

[1]

SWAN & MACLAREN,

ARCHITECTS.

SINGAPORE,

10th. Decr. 1908

Dear Sir,

My wife who is a daughter1 of the late Charles Allen2 has asked me to write to you and congratulate you upon the honour His Majesty has conferred on you by giving you the Order of Merit.3 Although not personally known to you my wife feels that she knows you as her father was never tired of telling his children of the happy times he spent with you.

There is a feeling in the Straits [2] that you do to a certain extent belong to us from the long time you spent here & your writings.

Reading 'Your Life'4 gave many of us many hours of pleasure.

Mr. Allens [sic] sons & daughters are all here & are doing very well.

We hope you are enjoying good health & may be spared for many years to come to give us more of your writings[.]

With kindest regards | Faithfully yours | Regent. A. J. Bidwell5 [signature]

1
Bidwell (née Allen), Edith (d. 1944). Daughter of Charles Allen (1839-1892).
2
Allen, Charles Martin (1839-1892). British. ARW's assistant in the Malay Archipelago.
3
The Order of Merit is a dynastic order awarded in recognition of distinguished service principally in the advancement of the Arts, Learning, Literature and Science. It is in the sole gift of the Sovereign and is restricted to 24 members as well as additional foreign recipients. There is also a military division included in the 24. The order was established by King Edward VII at the time of his coronation in 1902.
4
Wallace, A. R. 1905. My life: A record of events and opinions. London: Chapman & Hall. Two volumes.
5
Bidwell, Regent Alfred John (1869-1918). British architect noted for his colonial era buildings in Singapore. Son-in-law of Charles Allen (1839-1892).

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3263.3231)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Beccaloni, George [2012-12-05] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP3263,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3263