WCP3703

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Nov.[ember] 6th. 1893

My dear Mr. Allen¹

I was much pleased to hear from you again and to find that you are ^still enjoying life in your pleasant retirement at Alwington.

Although I visited twice at the house of Senator and Mrs. Stanford² — at Washington and in California — I doubt, whether, among the multitude of visitors they received, she would have any distinct recollection of myself. But fortunately I know one of the professors at [2] the Stanford University with whom I stand at Bloomington Ill. where he was Professor of Geology³. He is a very agreeable man, with whom I have twice corresponded & to whom I can write as to a personal friend. He has been since State Geologist of Arkansas, and for a year or two has been Professor of Geology at the Stanford University. He was also for seven years in Brazil making a geological survey of the country. I enclose you a letter to him which I feel sure will cause him to give a [3] cordial reception to your daughter & her husband, and which will be more useful to them than one to Mrs. Stanford inasmuch as he is sure to be on the spot and able at once to give them all the information and assistance they require. He is married, & his wife is a well-informed and agreeable lady.

Pray give my kindest regards to Mrs. Allen & your daughters. I often think of the pleasant days I spent in your hospitable house and your delightful grounds & garden. Gardening is my chief hobby. I am glad to say that I am in fair health [4] though feeling symptoms of age especially in liability to bronchial affections. I amuse myself with miscellaneous literary work, as you perhaps know by my contribution to periodicals — chiefly to our Fortnightly Review⁴ & to the Boston Arena⁵. I am sorry I am so far away from your son Grant⁶ so that I never see him.

With best wishes | Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

J. A. Allen Esq.

P.S. I hope my letter may be in time.⁷