WCP628

[1]

Dear Sir,

In reply to your letter, it is with the deepest sorrow & regret that ^{& regret} I write in reply to your letter, to inform you that my father’s ^death is no longer amongst the living. After a severe illness of about three weeks he died on ^the Oct 6^{th inst} in the present year. I greatly wish that he had ^{Would that he could have} lived to have seen your letter. It would have afforded him so much pleasure. Lately he had spoken about you a great deal and was especially interested in your articles which onto book ^{recent contribution} to the Fortnightly Review ^{on the exiled of} "Mans Place in the Universe." Now his interest in every thing has ceased—I hope not forever.

With regards to your [1 word illeg.] I cannot find anything at present that might be useful to your friend, but if he could make it convenient to call upon me at anytime I should be happy to show my father’s (from any) books or papers that were in my father’s possession. I am afraid that the [2 words illeg.] along get much information (about my uncles papers) from apart from bound there is out much that would be over January great Russel in London. My father himself would very much[?] at our place[?] my father left at that did considerable would understand [10 words crossed out and illeg.] himself and I am happy just now to imagine his papers both [1 word illeg.] & in help watch I know nothing of Entomology (myself) am glad to very thank the two of my father’s (close friends) are assisting me in the two.

I beg to enclose an In Memoriam Card of my father who & trusting you are in good health.

Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Earnest F. Bates [signature]