My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

—MONEY MATTERS 373" Sir," Principal Librarian and Secretary's Office." British Museum, W.C, June 24, 1867." If you will send your own stampedreceipt to this Office, you will be paid the amountdue to you by the Trustees of the British Museum,£S OS. od. " I am, sir,"Mr. A. R.Wallace."" Your very obedient Servant,"Thomas Butler,"Assist. Secretary.I, of course, complied with the request and sentthe stamped receipt, and by return of post had thefollowing written communication :" Mr. Butler begs to transmit the enclosed P.O.order for £4. igs. 6d. to Mr. Wallace, and the amountof it, with the cost of the order (6d.), makes up thesum due by the Trustees to Mr. Wallace." British Museum, June 25, 1867."This amazing little dodge (for I can call it nothingelse) completely staggered me. I was at first inclinedto return the P.O. order, or to write asking for the 6d.,and if necessary summon Mr. Butler (or the Trustees)to a County Court for the 6d. due. But I was busy,and did not want to enter upon what I felt sure wouldbe a long correspondence and endless trouble andexpense. I therefore determined to keep the twoincriminating documents, and some day print them.The day has now come ; and it may be interesting tolearn whether this preposterous and utterly dishonestmethod of paying part of an admitted debt, after