WCP487

[1]

[In ARW’s hand] Answ^d

London 8 Januari 1913

Dear Gentleman¹

I have had the pleasure in reading the westminster gazette and I was very glad to see your picture and read about your story about ship wrecked and then a other part is that you are very good man I am of your opinion Government should not give away a single penny of public money to pictur museums as long as a single person in the country dies of starvation of so as the king wrote to me he was very sory and could not pay my fare [2] 2 to south africa I am a baer and I have lost

1 my property

2 my papers are ^buried burid

3 my money is up through the last strike we have had a restourant in Leith scotland and now of what my to several office in Quen victoria street London but no white house could do nothing I have used up my furniture and so I am living with my poor wife in 91 vauxhall bridg road in a furnished room O Lord Russel Wallace if you could help my I should be very glad if I had on this moment £25 but nobody wil help me to com back to east fourtein natal you should help me very poor man [3] 3 I am very good ^{for a farmer} my wife can milk cows and I can dres horses and so: but we have nothing and now I hope you could do Anything for us to help us that ^£25 pound money for we are nearly on the street recived order greating and we hope you will help us Dear Lord your rewards from Africa British subjects of your dear Country | W van den Berghe² [signature]

91 vauxhall Bridge Road

SW London