WCP6010

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Feb[ruar]^y. 15th. 1902

Dear Mr. Thomas

Just at this time I am unusually occupied having bought land at Broadstone where I am making a new garden & going to build a house; & the amount of negotiation & correspondence about the land & now with architect, workmen, gardeners, builders &c. &c. in addition to my regular correspondence have made me neglect my literary work which it is mist important I sh[oul]^d. get on with so as to complete a book before the spring weather calls for all my time in my new garden.

I therefore cannot write anything for you, but will give you a few dates & facts.

1823 — Jan[uary]. 8 born at Usk in the parish of Llanbadock.

1827 — Left Usk

1839-40 — With elder brother to Kingston (Hereford) close to Welsh border (Radnorshire) into the count I often wandered surveying or walking.

1840 — To Llandrindrod Wales, surverying Parish for Enclosure of Commons.

1846-41 To Rhayadeor surveying Parish for Tithe Consultation.

1841-2. Back to Kington, & thence to Neath — surveying the parish of Cadoxton for Title Consultation. Remained till 1843, with my brother William, working as surveyor with a little architecture & engineering, till 1844.

1846. On my brother's death in this year I returned to Neath, & carried on his professional work till 1848 when I left to go with Bates to the Amazon.

[3] Since then I have been many times to Wales (North & South) for pleasure, & about 18 years ago visited Usk, & the house where I was born, * recognised its appearance, position & surroundings, as being almost wholly unchanged since I had seen it when 4 years old.

It is evident that to that to fill in this outline would take a good deal of time and trouble as unfortunately I have no documents of any kind to refer to, the few I had being unfortunately lost in a family scrap book many years ago when I was abroad.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]