WCP4127

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming.

Feby 16th. 1886

Dear Sir¹

I have received an invitation from Mr. Augustus Lowell² of Boston to give some lectures to the "Lowell Institute" in the coming Autumn, and he refers me to you as having recently lectured there very successfully, for any particulars I may wish to know. He asks for 6 or 8 lectures & séances November as the earliest period, but he does not say at what intervals the lectures would have to be given — whether daily or at intervals of 2, 3, or more days.

I have some idea of going on a lecturing tours, having also received an invitation from Melbourne, but I should [2] begin with America.³ I am advised by Gerald Massey,⁴ who has lectured in both countries, that the most profitable method is to employ an agent to arrange a tour, and he recommends giving only one or two lectures in each town, as ensuring by far the largest returns, — & this is a point of special importance to me as it is only the prospect of realising a considerable sum that would induce me to undertake the risk of fatigue of such a tour.

If you can give me any advice or information on these points I shall be much obliged. Do you think the lectures to the Lowell Institute would [3] interfere with one or two public lectures in Boston? I do not know whether these Lowell lectures are to members only or to the public. I have been told that the Redpath Lyceum Bureau of Boston undertake lecture agencies. Do you know anything of them?

I should lecture mainly on Nat. Hist. but also on Social questions — Land Nationalisation, Depression of Trade &c. — where desired.

Having a very delicate throat & being very sensitive to chills, I must avoid the Eastern Winter, & my idea was to lecture if possible in October to the mid of Nov. in the East, then go south & by southern route to California. Can you tell me whether November is a [4] tolerably good month in the Eastern states?

Believe me ׀ yours faithfully ׀ Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

E. W. Gosse Esq.