WCP703

[1]¹

Broadstone <Dorset>

Feb. 1st <1904>²

My dear Fred³

I had written to you, but not closed the letter, when yours from London arrived. I had strongly recommended that you not to go viâ Jamaica unless a very large reduction was made, — but I hardly expected so much as you have got. It is the uncertainty as to time lost & expenses at Jamaica & cost on to Georgetown, and the uncertainty of it, that I thought of. But I never expected you would get a passage so cheap as £8, to Jamaica. If you could get one to Georgetown for £10 or even £12, it would be better, I do not think you will get there for less now, as you may have to stay a week at Jamaica in a hotel, at 10/- [or] 15/- a day! You do not say when Sir A<MS burned> steamers leave Bristol, I suppose week <MS burned> [2] <MS burned> Do not be afraid of the <MS burned> passengers. They will be a very mixed lot, & many not at all above yourself in education or manners. If you ask the head Steward when you go on board to put you near the foot of the table, among quiet people, telling him you have never made a voyage before, you will feel quite at home in a day or two. The only point of etiquette is, that most people dress for the late dinner, but there are always some who only put on a black coat, and usually some who wear ordinary morning clothes. I presume you have, or will have one suit of thin black, for official visits in Georgetown &c. & you can ask the Steward what what is usual and what is the minimum of dress considered to be respectable. Mr. Kaye⁴ would tell you about it, but you won’t get this in time. I have no doubt if you tell the steward you had rather go 2nd. class & have a good 2nd. class berth, he would be glad to change. You might say a friend had given you the 1st. class ticket. You might even get a pound or two from someone who could not find room and was obliged to go 2nd. class. When you have your [3] ticket, you might write to <MS burned> or Purser if there is one, offering <MS burned> to 2nd. class.

It will be well to make friends w<ith> one of the Stewards on board as he could tell you where you can board cheaply in Kingstown till the Georgetown boat sails.

To come here there are only two trains from Waterloo — one at 7:40 am gets here viâ Brockenhurst (change) and Wimborne (change) arriving here at 12:30. The other & best at 4:10 pm; reaching Poole at 6:30 (change) in here, due at 7-0.

Should you want the Saturday in London, there is one train on Sunday, leaving Waterloo at 12-(noon) Brockenhurst (change) Wimborne (change) here at about 5 pm.

If you come by the 4:10 train on Saturday, I will have a lantern hung on our gate to show you wh<ere> [4] <MS burned> the high road.

[sketch of map with north and south labeled at top and bottom of page]

We are about half a mile from the station.

If no one is at the gate bring the lantern up with you.

In haste for post | yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Mr. Thomas⁵ is the head, Regan is assistant. Go to Mr. Thomas.

A.R.W.