WCP37

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Dec.[ember] 14th. 1901

My dear Will

I am afraid your specialty of a Musical Alarum is hard to get. I wrote to Sir John Bennett to know if there was such a clocks made & prices &c. Reply — they did not know of any & could therefore quote no prices. But in a Catalogue of Watts & Co. a Bristol firm of Watch & Clock Manufacturers, I have found one such, apparently quite a new thing, which however has the [2] disadvantage of being in a large & not very well-designed case 22 in[ches] high. I wrote to ask them if they could supply this clock in a smaller & plainer case, but their only answer was to send me another Catalogue, so I expect it a novelty of foreign make which they have imported. ¹I enclose the illustr[atio]ⁿ & description from the catalogue.

If you would like it I shall be glad to give it to you as a Birthday present. The "Gallery" at top of case might be taken off & would reduce the size by a few inches. Let me know [3] in a day or two.

We are also very anxious to know if you can come to us at ‘Xmas & when & for how long. As we find it will cost a great deal to have the water laid on — as the mains are nearly ¼ mile off — I have decided to sink for water. I am told however that though there are many wells from 15 to 30 feet deep not far off yet one well in the village was sunk 60 feet without finding water.

I am therefore going to have a "dowser"; & in case the weather should be too bad [4] for one to go, I should very much like you & Violet² to be here to interview him, & note his doings & his report. He will I believe also undertake the sinking [of] the well, only to be paid if he finds water.

All is right as to the Architect, who is a very old friend of Carter’s and is well known to Carter’s head builder — Mr. Curtis, who tells me he is very glad I have employed him to make the drawings as he is a very good architect.

In haste | Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[5] P.S. What Ma would like for a ‘Xmas present, is a few of the new "Penzance Sweet Briars"— If you write to W.C. Slocock, Goldsworth Old Nursery, Woking, Surrey— he will supply them at from 6/- to 12/- a dozen. The six best are— (1). Lady Penzance, (2). Lord Penzance, (3). Lucy Bertram, (4). Catherine Seyton (5). Jeannie Deans, (6). Lucy Ashton—

These six at the highest price would be a very nice present. Send him a P[ostal]. Order & the address, & he will send them to date. A.R.W. [signature]