WCP3514

[1]¹

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Dorset.

March 8th. 1913

Private

Messrs Macmillan & Co²

Dear Sirs

I shall be obliged if you will give me a little information & advice on a matter of business.

My friend, Rev^d James Marchant,³ for whom I have just written a small book on Environment & Morality⁴ (to be published by Cassell &Co. in a few weeks) has been asked by M^r. John Murray⁵ to write a small book giving a an popular account of the lives & works of Darwin⁶ and myself [2] for the present generation of readers who know little at first hand of either of us. He thinks that such a book is wanted is [sic] would sell well largely; and I think M^r. Marchant would be the best man to do it, as he tells me he possesses the whole of my books, and has read my Darwinism⁷ seven times!

Of course I shall be consulted about the matter of the book, and that will lead to a good deal of correspondence & probably some proof-reading, [3] which at my age, and in addition to my large & increasing correspondence will involve a considerable strain on my power of work &c.

What I wish to ask you is, whether I could, consistently with fairness & custom ask Mr. Murray to give me some share in the profits he of course expects to make, either in form of a small royalty or a sum down — the former I should prefer for the sake of my family, my son having a chronic lung disease which may render [him] permanently [4] unable to earn a living.

If you will kindly advise me what proposal I might reasonably make to Mr. Murray I shall be greatly obliged.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]