WCP4494

[1]¹

Frith Hill, Godalming.

August 7th. 1886

My dear Meldola²

I was glad to hear of your whereabouts and your wanderings. I have not seen the Lake District but I have always heard it described as the most picturesquely wild ^{& beautiful} part of our islands — more like the better wooded parts of Wales I expect than Scotland, except the Loch Katrine district. Of course you will take some excursions there & up Loch Lomond, and also I suppose up the West Coast so glowingly described in [2] Black’s novels, and said to be unique for grandeur & atmospheric effects.

I have finished my set of Lectures for Lowell,³ & have now only four political & social lectures to get up. The opening lecture which I have offered to give (for practice) at Loughton is not illustrated by lecture ^lantern slides but by diagrams. I have arranged to exhibit my slides here to the Charterhouse boys & masters, so as to see if any of them want improving.

[3] Have you read yet Romanes’⁴ improvement on Darwin,⁵ in Journal of Linn. Society? Also in last "Nature" a full abstract. I am writing a criticism⁶ of it as I consider it very imperfect.

Willie⁷ is now home for his holidays. He has got quite at home at Cranleigh & likes it very well except that the "tuck" is not very satisfactory & the tea he compares to pig-wash! However, he looks all right. We went to their speech-day. There were 460 visitors & they gave us a fine luncheon [4] in the dining hall followed by lots of speeches. You will I am sure be pleased with Edinburgh, & when there go & see the Forth Bridge works.

Give my compliments & best wishes to Mrs. ^R. Meldola,⁸and believe me

yours very sincerely| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. Of course you will go to Fort William, the Parallel Roads of Glenroy, & the Ben Nevis Observatory!