WCP4507

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming.

August 30^th. 1888

My dear Meldola

Your last letter f was duly forwarded to me in the wilds of Cornwall, but I did not write because I had no address but "Chippenham", and as I myself always forget or neglect to call ^at the P[ost] Office for letters in out-of-the-way places on the chance that some one in some part of the world might chance to write to me there — I naturally supposed that you would be equally neglectful although I would wait till [2] I obtained some more definite information of your whereabouts. I, & my wife had a pleasant outing on the whole. We had a week at Penzance & the Land’s End 3 soaking days & 3 fine. Then a week at Chepstow, visiting Tintern Abbey & the lovely scenery of the Wye, the most beautiful and picturesque bit of country perhaps in the world — at least I have seen nothing to equal it, except the best bit of Switzerland. We also spent 3 days at Coleford in the Forest of Dean which to my [3] great surprise is a genuine forest nearly as big as the [N]ew [F]orest, & more continuously woody. The "Speech House" — a comfortable Hotel in the very centre of it would be a splendid point for mothing. I advise you to try it some holiday. Another charming spot is Symond’s Yat above Monmouth a nice little rural hotel in the midst of the most picturesque & romantic scenery imaginable. It was there I had my one Entomological success. We were walking on a broad path in the wood when on the ground before me, with wings expanded, I [4]¹ saw, for the first time in my life, a living Purple Emperor! I just stopped my wife from walking over it, then knelt down, & gently touching the tips of the wings with my outstretched fingers, made him raise them for an instant & then neatly caught him between my finger & thumb, pinned him in my hat & brought him home safely for Willie — a very good, thought not quite perfect specimen. Then we spent a week with Miss North — the great botanical painter — at her lovely country house at Chepsto Alderley near Wootton-under-Edge, about [5]² 12 miles N[orth] W[est] of where you are, on the southern slope of the Cotswolds & in a most lovely country. Fine valleys with ^clear running streams, rich green meadows, abundant woods, & some of the finest trees of all kinds I have seen in England. We went one day to see Berkley Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited feudal castle in England, where Edward 2^nd was murdered. It is very fine & interesting, but more so in its outward than it inward aspects, — as the modern furnishing is rather [6] incongruous. Galton & his wife were staying with Miss North & we had some talks about variation & sundry matters. He is very good company. It was "ructs" to me to see ^{in "Nature"} that Poulton & you ^are having a little shindy with Romanes.

You remember when I quoted Allen’s facts about bird-variation against him, his reply was — that I could only quote "what had been known for years to every naturalist". Now he applies the same little dodge to Poulton [7] in calling Weismann’s papers "notorious" — by which he intends the world to know that he — the omniscient — must know all about them, & cannot possibly misapprehend their hearing! His standpoint is far too lofty for him to condescend to explain his or justify his statements! I hope you will keep him up to the scratch. By-the-bye, how does Poulton’s translation of Weissman [sic] get on. I trust it will be out soon. I am getting on slowly with my book. I have just [8]³ finished the Chap[ter] on "Geog[raphical] Distribution". — not as easy as you might think, as I wanted to treat it freshly, after all that has been written on it. I have just begun "Geological Succession" which is somewhat similarly difficult. Then I shall have I think only two more chapters — on — "Laws of Variation"— & "Man". —

My outing did me good, but I am still far from as well as I was this time last year. I want a summer dwelling, & think of leaving Godalming when I find one.

With kind remembrances to your wife & mother.

Believe me| Yours very faithfully| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. If you can bring your wife & mother down for a day or two before your holidays end we shall be very glad to see you.⁴