WCP4134

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Dec^r. 2nd. 1896

Dear Mr. Galton¹

I was very pleased to have your private Circular and letter.² I had just written to Poulton,³ hoping that Oxford would yet do something of the kind. But the R. Soc. will be better still. There are many great landlords & rich men who are Fellows of the R. S. Will more of them give a farm for the purpose? Surely many must have farms of very little letting value. And if [2] a great Landlord gave a farm, perhaps some millionaire might devote a fragment of his wealth to endowing it. If they will not do this they are not very worthy fellows of the R. S.

It would be rather a pity to have the botanical separate from the Zool. experiments, as one resident manager could as easily look after [3] both as over one. Even with both his time would be barely occupied. Could not additional land be got near Darwin’s⁴ house⁵ & the whole Biological Farm established there?

The easy accessibility from London would be a great advantage, and I fancy the adjoining land is rather poor, but dry & healthy.

I hope now something may be done.

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

F. Galton Esq. F.R.S.