WCP5475

Letter (WCP5475.6207)

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

March 28th. 1901

Dear Professor S. Thompson

Many thanks for permission to use the cuts.

Everything you say about the War & Chamberlain1 I agree with. I have done the little I can in writing a few letters & signing memorials &c. but when men of political influence like Mr. Courtney2 are not listened to it seems hopeless.

The amazing statements made astonish me! I read today that Lord Selbourne3 said last night that the terms of peace offered were [2] "the most generous ever offered by victor to vanquished". And his hearers seem to believe it!

The people seem war mad! We must wait till they come to their senses!

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[3]4

1
Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914). British politician and statesman. He was Secretary of State for the Colonies during the Boer War.
2
Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith (1832-1918). British politician and academic. With his wife, Catherine Courtney, he led the anti-war South Africa Conciliation Committee.
3
William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selbourne (1859-1942). British politician and colonial administrator.
4
Written in the top right of the page in an unidentified hand is "Alfred R. Wallace re Boar War".

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP5475.6207)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Cooper, Rod [2014-04-10] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2014-04-11] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10]

Please cite as “WCP5475,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP5475