WCP700

[1]¹

Bro<adstone, Dorset>

Oct^r. 9th <1903>²

My dear Fred³

I was very plea<sed> to receive yesterday the enclosed letter from the Controller of Customs, in reply to mine of Aug. 17th. The "conditions specified" were, that about half your time would be free for collecting and I mentioned your chief qualifications & that I would guarantee your integrity, sobriety &c. in any position <of> trust. The mail goes out [2] <MS burned> Guiana next Wednesday so you had perhaps better write to Mr. De Jonge⁴ yourself asking him to be so kind as to let you know what the work would be &c.

But as I wrote to the Commissioner of Mines about the Post of Sub-warden, by the next mail (Sept. 2nd.) I may have a reply from him in a fortnight, & you can very well wait for that, as he ^{(Mr. De Jonge)} suggests your waiting two months, which I suppose [3] will suit you very we<ll as> it will give you more time to prepare. The salary Mr. De Jonge offers is small, but having your board is a great thing, & I presume it includes lodging.

I have just written to the Controller of Customs thanking him for the trouble he has taken, & saying you will write to Mr. ^{De Jonge.}

I think now, your chance of going out looks very promising and I think you may tell any persons to whom you writ<e> for information, that you rea<MS burned> [4] <MS burned> decided to go in a month or two.

Let me know the result of your interview with Mr. Schill⁵ as soon as it has taken place.

Omai is up the Essequibo a little below the Potaro river, & seems to be in a hilly country. I long for you to be there almost as much as if I were going myself!

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]