WCP3960

[1]

Brondstone, Wimborne.

June 10th. 1904

Dr. Richard Garnett.¹

Dear D^r. Garnett

It is many years since we met, but I nevertheless venture to write to you for some information which I do not know where to get elsewhere.

I have lately been reading the late George Borrow's book — Wild Wales,² and in it I find two references to a wonderful Ghost Story by Lopez de Vega,³ which he claims to be "the most wonderful ghost story in the world", He, once, at a little Welsh Inn told this [2] story to a lot of Welsh miners and peasants, and he says — "Loud and long was the applause which followed the conclusion of the grand ghost story of the world". (p. 666.)

Now as I believe that most old (and new) ghost stories are founded on fact — as witness Defoe's story of "Mrs. Veals' ghost"⁴ which has been proved accurate as to all the persons, places, & dates, given in it — I am very anxious to read this story, but unfortunately Borrow gives no reference to it in L. de V.'s very voluminous works. I presume there is no complete translation of L. de Vega, but it occurs probably in his [3] tales or narratives of some sort, not in the Dramas, which latter, I believe, form the bulk of his writings. Will you kindly inform me whether you have heard of this story, & whether there is any English translation of it? If not, I preserve all L. de Vegas' works, in Spanish, are in the B. M. Library, and I should be glad if you could refer me to any Spanish scholar interested in Psychical Research, who would translate it, and send it to some Magazine for publication, as, if Borrow's opinion is of any value, it would be at once accepted [4] by almost any of our best periodicals.

Hoping you are not too busy to give a little time to their matter.

Believe me | yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. If the story can be found I would not mind taking the risk myself of paying for the translation as I feel sure I could get repaid by any good mag. or reviews.

A.R.W.