WCP80

[1]

Broadstone, Dorset.

Sept^r. 12th. 1903

My dear Will¹

We have been so very busy all this week with a succession of visitors, & my work, getting off final proofs to the printer & to America that I have not had any time to spare, and quite forgot that you were going soon to Manchester. So I write now by midday post which you ought to get tomorrow morning. We know no one in Manchester but I have been studying my new Atlas and I find that the side of Manchester that will suit you best is the East towards Ashton or Hyde. This would be nearest to all the fine wild country — the Peak to the South-East — and the fine Yorkshire moors to the N. E.

[2] There is a height of 1880 feet about 15 miles N. E. from the very centre of Manchester,.

You thus have easy access to one of the finest wild districts in the north, from the Derbyshire Hills & vales to the country between Rochdale & Huddersfield — a stretch of forty or fifty miles.

If you go to some small hotel or boarding house for a week you will be able to look out yourself in that direction & find some place to suit you.

[3] After you left on Sunday evening I looked over that last chapter, cut out all the repetition you noted, & wrote some new matter, so as, now, to read pretty straight, — & I sent it to printer Monday & have had proofs, & sent all off to America last Wednesday. The Caseys² read all the rest of the proofs and found out lots of small grammatical errors &c.

We have had a succession of visitors. Three boys — your Aunt Flora³ & now Dora Best,⁴ and on Wednesday Miss Debenham is coming on a visit for an [4] indefinite time.

Let us know as soon as you have a temporary address in Manchester, — and how you like your new bosses and office-mates. As far as society & scientific meetings, lectures &c. I sh^d think Manchester will be A.I. as there are such lots of Professors in Owen’s College,⁵ among others Boyd-Dawkins.⁶

Your Affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]