WCP788

[1]¹

Mr Bates

Many years have now passed without an opportunity of thanking you for your kindness to my dear Herbert² in a foreign land — — accept my thanks now though late — I have enclosed 2 pieces of writing his composition — it shews a more contemplative mind than I gave him credit for[.] I have many more written at various times but so imperfectly that it is with difficulty I have been able [2] to make out the meaning of many of them — Someday I will shew you my manuscripts[?] of mostly written on his journeyings through the Country — — Say nothing to my son Alfred[,] he is peculiar and may not like my troubling you with things long past [sic] away[.]

Yours truly | M A Wallace [signature]

May 11^th 1863