WCP420

[1]

Derby House

Hailsham Road

Heathfield

Saturday Evening

[later annotation in pencil] [July 22 1900]

My dear Annie¹

Thanks for shirt & letters. This place & country round is not specially nice & is being spoilt by overbuilding and by systematic robbery of all the roadside strips. Today we have been a drive round to Mayfield, & that is quite different, much more picturesque hardly at all built over, really better views, and a delightful old-fashioned village. But what is more curious we have seen a farm which more nearly [2] supplies what I have been looking for than any I have seen around Heathfield. And although Mr. Swinton² declares the air of Heathfield to be better — how he knows no one can say — even he admits that this farm is better & cheaper for our purpose than any we have seen. The house is only a cottage, but there are a long range of barn & stables nearly new, which could be converted into a large & comfortable house with a charming view down [3] a valley to the east, with a tiny stream & a wooded bank with primroses &c.

There are also 2 good well grown orchards, which we have found nowhere else, and the farmer's wife who is now leaving says they produce abundance of fruit & are the best part of the farm. They are leaving at Michaelmas, & she thinks it is let to another person but we have telegraphed to the agent & shall probably hear on Monday. Even [4] if it is gone there is another house near to be had, & the place is not yet boomed by builders, & if we come & stay there a week ^{after Violet3 comes home} we are almost sure to find something, & the subjects for sketches are innumerable.

You need not send any more papers or letters after you get this. I will wire when I have decided what day I come home.

Your ever affectionate | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]