WCP671

Holly House, Barking, E.

July 3rd 1871

Dear Stainton¹

Owing to your having said you were just leaving town for the Lakes I put your letter aside for a few days, & then being much occupied with other matters entirely forgot all about it, till your presence called it to my recollection. For this apparent neglect I must apologise both to you and to the Linnaean Society.

With regard to the offer you were as good as to make [2] me on behalf of the Society I could can only say, that my only motive for declining it could be, my feeling that it is an honour so entirely beyond any thing that I have any right to expect or that I have done anything to deserve. Should however the Council of the Society think differently I shall not be so ungracious as to refuse the proffered honour.²

I remain | D^r. Stainton | yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

H.T. Stainton Esq.