WCP4346

[1]

Pen y bryn, St. Peter’s R^d., Croydon.

April 17th. 1881

My dear D^r. Ingleby¹

Many thanks for your kind congratulations.

I had not heard that Bates² was a fellow the Royal Society,— but I presume he was elected in their usual way. I myself set no value on such things or I might have been a fellow 10 years ago. It merely involves going through the regular forms & a payment of £40-£50 which I have not to spare. By-the-Bye a Russian professor³ was with me [2] the other day who told me that in their Royal Society— the "Imperial Academy of St. Petersburgh"— the fellows receive each a salary of £.500 a year! That is a substantial honour!

As to the Fletchers I have the firmest confidence that they are not impostors as regards their mediumship & therefore that the sentence was unjust. I have received more benefit from Fletcher⁴ than from any medium I know, & I have always found him & his [3] wife⁵ well mannered & honest. As to their moral character in other matters I of course know nothing,— but it is evident (from her own confession) that the accuser— Mrs Hart Davies⁶— is not to be believed in her oath.

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

P.S. After May 5th. my address will be— Nutwood Cottage Godalming Surrey.