WCP5044

[1]

10' Jun[e] [189]8¹

D^r Alfred Russel Wallace,

Dear Sir,

We are extremely disappointed that the book² does not meet with your approval. We had thought it exceptionally[?] satisfactory, and the booksellers, to show[?] our [1 word illeg.] have been [1 word illeg.] it the past day or two, all appear to like it also. The book turned out shorter than was anticipated when the piece[?] was fixed, owing to the earlier part of the matter proving less than we, and we believe you too, had anticipated, and so it was absolutely necessary for us to use abnormally[?] thick paper in order to justify the price[?]. The "light, thin" paper to which you refer is really[?] shoddy[?]; it does[?] not last; and is a good deal cheaper than the paper we have used. We have no note of having [2]³ promised to use a light paper, or of your request[?] that we should do so: otherwise we would, of course, have done so.

Shall we bind up some copies cut down to the height of your Island Life⁴, which has cut [1 word illeg.] (&[?] which so many people who wish to read[?] their books in better[?] object now—a—days), with the pattern stamped wholly in gold? We think you will consider that the gold[?] is "overdone".when you see it, but we can offer buyers the alternatives.

We are, dear Sir, Yours very faithfully | Swan Sonnenschien [illeg.]⁵ [signature]

We will send you the reviews as they come in.