Ɛpsilon

WCP392

Letter (WCP392.392)

[1]

Neath Monday 7th [May 1849]1

Dear Fanny2

Taking every circumstance into consideration, upon receiving Alfred’s letters we thought it was best that I should join him in Para3 every thing is now arranged; I leave the Abbey4 on Saturday next, and start from Swansea to Liverpool on the wednesday [sic] following; I was glad to hear by your letter on Sunday that every thing arrived safe and have no doubt as you have [2] a place for every thing, every thing by this time is in its place. I should like very much as I told Thommas5 [sic] to come and see you before I go, but as we have been to a good deal of expense in preparing my outfit; I am afraid it is not possible, I am glad to hear you have got some drawing pupils and I dare say you will also soon obtain some french ones. It is an extraordinary fact, and yet nothing extraordinary for the Neath People; that now [3] I am about to depart many want to take French lessons and regret they did not so before. Just like them in the case of yourself and Alfred. But I hope this will be a better speculation for me; we are doomed to be a scatter'd family, and if it must be so, if circumstance has so ordered it let us meet it bravely, and with honest hearts go forth, resigned and cheerful under the dispensations of Providence; Farewell my dear Fanny, prehaps [sic] we may in some future time yet meet again; may all the happiness [4] which unison of heart and mind is capable of giving be yours now and in future years, for

"True affection lasts the longer6

When its brightest hours are oer

Parting sorrows bind it stronger

Memory but endears it more"

Now like the family of Renponte, we are to be scattered abroad[.] Let us hope that all its members may meet yet again, Fare thee well and if for ever, now for ever fare thee well.7

I must now remain | Your ever Affectionate Brother | Edward Wallace8 [signature]

1
Dated by Raby in Raby, P. 2002. Alfred Russel Wallace: A Life. London: Pimlico, p. 47, note 29.
2
Sims (née Wallace) Frances ("Fanny") (1812-1893). Sister of ARW; teacher. Married Thomas Sims (1826-1910) in 1849.
3
"Para", now Belém, capital of Pará state in northern Brazil (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2018. Belém. Brazil. Encyclopaedia Britannica. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Belem-Brazil> [accessed 27 June 2018]).
4
Neath Abbey Iron works, where ARW's brother had been working since around 1846 (Raby, P. 2002. Alfred Russel Wallace: A Life. London: Pimlico, p. 24).
5
Sims, Thomas (1826-1910). Brother-in-law of ARW; photographer; married on 15 February 1849 to ARW's sister. shortly before the date of this letter.
6
The second verse of a poem entitled "The Test of Love" by Major Topham, presumably Edward Topham (1751-1820), journalist and playwright (see Stephens, J. R. 2004. Topham, Edward (1751-1820), journalist and playwright. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. <https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/27551> [accessed 22 June 2018]).
7
The first two lines of the poem "Fare Thee Well" by George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824).
8
Wallace, Herbert Edward ("Edward") (1829-1851). Brother of ARW and assistant to him in Brazil.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP392.392)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Knott, Peter [2012-06-12] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15] Transcription checked by Watt, Helen [2018-07-12] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2024-11-11]

Please cite as “WCP392,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP392