WCP3375

Letter (WCP3375.3343)

[1]1

Nutwood Cottage, Frith Hill,

Godalming,

Nov[embe]r. 29th. 1881

Dear Mr. Macmillan

I have just completed a book which I should like you to publish — Let me first tell you why I have written it.

My article in the Contemporary last November on "How to Nationalize the Land," attracted much attention & brought me much correspondence. Many persons, thinking it offered the long-sought basis for a practicable scheme of Land Nationalisation thought a Society sh[oul]d. be formed to make known the plan and interest the public. This has been now[?] done, several important converts have been made& several hundred pounds have been provided for preliminary expenses. we have settled on a programme [2] embodying the main principle of my scheme but with some important practical modifications. My book (which I was at work at all last winter but which has been stopped by my building & garden making during the summer) is intended to give a general and readable sketch of the whole subject, on which, notwithstanding all that has been written the most deplorable ignorance prevails. I enclose you titles for the Chapters, which will show the scope of the book, & I should much like you to read one chapter — say that on Scotland — which would enable you to judge of the [3]2 character of the book.

The quantity of matter will be about ⅓ more than Mr. Russell’s3 — "New Views on Ireland" a[nd] about double Mr. Mongredien’s4 "Free Trade & English Commerce." I want a cheap edition in paper covers to be issued at 1/-5and I think I can promise that the Land Nationalisation Society will take 1000 copies of this to distribute among the working classes. Of course if you think fit a good Edition (like Mr Russell’s book) can be published at the same time at any price you like.

[4]6 I consider the book the most important I have ever written, and I have taken pains to get together facts which have never been brought together before, and to discuss them in as forcible and interesting a manner as I could.

The book must be brought out as soon as possible, and I confidently anticipate for it a large sale.

Please let me know as soon as possible whether you will undertake it & on what terms.

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace— [signature]7

P.S. One thousand copies of the cheap ed[itio]n. will be taken — & probably another thousand afterwards. ARW.8

1
The number "19." is written in the top right-hand corner of the page. It is not in Wallace’s hand-writing.
2
The number "20." is written in the top right-hand corner of the page. It is not in Wallace’s hand-writing.
3
Charles Arthur Russell, Baron Russell of Killowan (1832-1900). Irish statesman and lord Chief Justice of England.
4
Augustus Mongredien (1807-1888). Political economist and writer.
5
One shilling (equivalent to 5 pence).
6
Wallace’s name is written at the top of the page.. It is not in Wallace’s hand-writing.
7
The official stamp of the British Library is placed against Wallace’s valediction.
8
Wallace’s postscript is written vertically, in the left-hand margin of the page.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3375.3343)]

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

Revision history

Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-08-16] Transcribed by Cooper, Rod [2013-09-26] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-09-26]

Enclosure (WCP3375.5070)

[1]1

Land — Nationalisation2

Contents.

Chapter 1. On the causes of Poverty in the Midst of Wealth.

Chapter 2. A sketch of British Land-tenure, its Origins and present condition.3

Chapter 3. The Effects of Landlordism in Ireland.4

Chapter 4. Landlordism and its Results in Scottland.

Chapter 5. Landlordism in England.5

Chapter 6. The results of Occupying Ownership as opposed to those of Landlordism.

Chapter 7. Low Wages and Pauperism the direct consequences of Private Property in Land.

Chapter 8. Nationalisation of the Land affords the only mode of effecting a complete Solution of the Land Problem.6

[2]

(Title)

Land Nationalisation Its Necessity and its Aims: Being an Enquiry into the System of Landlord — and — Tenant and that of Occupying — Owners as affecting the Wellbeing of the People.

By, Alfred Russel Wallace

Author of "Island Life"8 &c.&c.&c.

1
Written to Alexander Macmillion (1815 — 1896), publisher.
2
Land Nationalisation Its Necessity and Its Aims: Being a Comparison of the System of Landlord and Tenant with that of Occupying Ownership in their Influence on the Well-Being of the People by ARW. Published in London by Swan Sonnenschein & Co.: 1892.
3
Renamed The Origin and Present State of British Land-Tenure in the published work.
4
Renamed A Few illustrations of Irish Landlordism in the published work.
5
Renamed The Economical and Social Effects of English Landlordism in the published work.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Enclosure (WCP3375.5070)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Smith, Sam [2013-08-16] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-08-16]

Please cite as “WCP3375,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3375