WCP705

[1]¹

Bro<adstone, Dorset>

Feb. <1904>²

My dear Fred³

I am glad y<ou> are restored to your right <man> Mr. Druce⁴ will be just as good a friend to you through an agent as direct, while it will be much better for him to have first choice from your whole collection than to have a few sets selected by you.

I went to Poole library yesterday & found in the last edition (1900) of Stanford’s Compendium, vol. on "Central & S. America" a charming little one page Map of Trinidad, which made me quite in love w<ith> [2] <Trinidad>. I also looked in Lloyd’s Shipping Register, and found that there is a Glasgow to W. Indies Direct Line. Prentice, Service & Henderson, 175, W. George Street Glasgow. They run to Barbadoes Trinidad, and Demerara.

As it is well to have two strings to your bow, you had better write to them for dates of sailing, & price of 2nd. Cabin fare to Trinidad. Perhaps they have an Agent in Liverpool, you could see, <MS burned> by showing ^{telling them of} Sir A. Jones’ offer [3] get a reduction.

I am strongly of opinion <MS burned> should got to Trinidad direct<ly?> as even if you have to pay £12, you will save nothing by the Jamaica £8, as I feel sur[e] you will not get off, & on again at Jamaica for much less than £2 if any, as you may have to stay a week or more.

You will no doubt be more at your ease on a Cargo ship, & of course there is a steward or two for the 2nd. Cabin Passengers you will also have a better chance of meeting people who know all about the Island, & who also know something of the S. A. A<merica> [4] <MS burned> I see it says in Stanford’s Compendium, that Trinidad is now the chief centre of distribution of goods to the smaller Islands & to Venezuela, the Orinooko &c. The worst is your losing another month, as they say the wet season begins in June. It is just possible that some parts of the island may be dried. If not you will have to go either to B. Guiana (to Suddu) in July or August, or to the Orinooko if you find that there is fine weather there.

Let me hear as soon as you settle about your voyage, ship, date of sailing, &c. Did you tell Prof. Poulton⁵ about going to Trinidad first?

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]