WCP544

[1]

¹Old Orchard

Broadstone

Wimborne

Nov[embe]^r 25th 1908

To the Lord Chamberlain²

Mr Lord

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd inst[an]^t, requesting my attendance at Buckingham Palace on Dec[embe]^r 12th, in order to be invested with the insignia of a member of the Order of Merit.

I have been informed, that, under ⁱⁿ special circumstances ^cases personsal attendance is may be is kindly dispensed with not required.

I therefore beg to inform you [2] that I shall enter my 86th year in January next, that I am in delicate health, and that I have only partially recovered from a recent illness. I therefore venture to hope that the King³ will kindly excuse my personal attendance at the investiture, and I shall be much obliged if you will inform me whether I must make a personal application to his Majesty, through Lord [3] Knollys⁴, in order that this favour may be granted me.

Your obed[ien]^t Servant | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]