WCP7133

Waldron Edge, Duppas Hill, Croydon.

July 23rd 1879

Dear Mr. Mongredien

Many thanks for your pamphlet¹ which, I read last night with much interest & profit. It is very clear & forcible — but there are a few points I should like further explanations on, & I think, a few misstatements of fact.

Come over some evening & take a cup of tea at 5 o'clock?

"The Spiritualist" newspaper 2^d. weekly is undoubtedly the best.² Send subscription to end of year to W[illiam]. H[enry]. Harrison,³ 33 British Museum Street W. C. at rate of 2^½ a week to end of year if you want it posted to you.

The "Epping Forest Committee"⁴ have now determined to appoint a Superintendent by public competition. I understand an advertisement will be in the papers [2] soon, probably this week or next[.] Of course I shall be a candidate & have hopes of succeeding.

I see, you more than once assume, that protected articles are dear and bad, free trade articles cheap & good. I think the fact is often, if not generally, the reverse — the greater the competition the more inducement to dishonesty to attain cheapness. Hence our shamefully adulterated goods, and short measures in all textile fabrics.

You prove clearly that our imports must be paid by goods (mainly) not by bullion— You add, "interest on investment abroad". But they may also be paid for by a return of the securities themselves, — the capital of those pay investments — & then they will shew that the country is ^getting poorer — is losing on capital instead of income. I think your figures show that this is going on now — yet you never allude to it or the possibility of it.

These two points are sufficient [for] now.

Yours very faithfully | Alfred R Wallace [signature]