WCP4072

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

May 3rd. 1907

Revd. Archdeacon Colley¹

Dear Sir

The picture you send me is not like what I saw. From the first appearance of the filmy white patch on Monck's² coat the white patch preserved its tolerably regular outline, being only "cloudy" in colour & apparently softness, never with any such irregularity (suggesting actual vapour) as in your drawing. By the time the figure was separated [2] from Monck & drew away from him, it had formed into definite white drapery covering it from head to foot, with no vapouriness or cloudiness (such as your picture shows). It simply grew into drapery over a female form — not one particle escaping into irregularly cloudy matter.

Of course this was one case only & in full daylight. [3] These things never happen exactly alike, & you know best whether the picture represents what you saw.

Allow me to congratulate you on the verdict in your favour though you ought to have had more damages on the libel — & would have had if the Judge had not been against you.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

The picture received & returned today A.R.W