WCP1452

[1]¹

To W.B. Hemsley², Esq.) Broadstone, Dorset Wimborne

June 17th. 1907

Dear Mr Hemsley

As I am now getting on towards the finish of the f first rough draft of Spruce's³ Journals, Letters, &c Notes⁴, I very much want the advice of some botanists (not specialists in the S.American flora, but as representatives of botanical readers generally) as to whether my summary or selection of the botanical notes made during his several voyages, are worth printing — that is, are such as would be interesting to a considerable number of botanical readers. I do not want to ask any one who will do it merely because I ask them, but some one who has leisure, and is interested in Spruce's work, and would give me an entirely unbiassed opinion as to whether anything better can be done with these notes, — or whether even botanists will not care for them. The whole of the matter I am getting ready will be large, & it is probably that Macmillan will ask me to still further reduce it. The Notes, as I h have given them, not only contain the names of the genera & often of the species observed (but not collected) during the voyages, but are intermingled with little sketches (verbal) of the habits, and relations, & uses, of various species, which I should not like to omit. The only men I know a little of, who might do what I want, are Mr. W.Carruthers⁵ and Dr. D.H. Scott⁶. As you probably know more of the character & interests of English botanists than almost anyone, will you kindly suggest any others I could properly ask to carefully read over this portion of the MSS. I have prepared.

Yours very Truly | Alfred R. Wallace. [signature]

[1]¹

To W.B. Hemsley², Esq.) Broadstone, Dorset Wimborne

June 17th. 1907

Dear Mr Hemsley

As I am now getting on towards the finish of the f first rough draft of Spruce's³ Journals, Letters, &c Notes⁴, I very much want the advice of some botanists (not specialists in the S.American flora, but as representatives of botanical readers generally) as to whether my summary or selection of the botanical notes made during his several voyages, are worth printing — that is, are such as would be interesting to a considerable number of botanical readers. I do not want to ask any one who will do it merely because I ask them, but some one who has leisure, and is interested in Spruce's work, and would give me an entirely unbiassed opinion as to whether anything better can be done with these notes, — or whether even botanists will not care for them. The whole of the matter I am getting ready will be large, & it is probably that Macmillan will ask me to still further reduce it. The Notes, as I h have given them, not only contain the names of the genera & often of the species observed (but not collected) during the voyages, but are intermingled with little sketches (verbal) of the habits, and relations, & uses, of various species, which I should not like to omit. The only men I know a little of, who might do what I want, are Mr. W.Carruthers⁵ and Dr. D.H. Scott⁶. As you probably know more of the character & interests of English botanists than almost anyone, will you kindly suggest any others I could properly ask to carefully read over this portion of the MSS. I have prepared.

Yours very Truly | Alfred R. Wallace. [signature]