WCP1467

(1)

To Clement Reid, Esq.) Parkstone, Dorset. January 21st. 1896

My dear Clement Reid¹

As you are I presume now in London & attending the Meetings of the Geol[ogical] Society & meeting all sorts & conditions of Geologists, will you be so good as to ascertain from the proper man if the gases in glacier water have been ascertained & get me a reference to the authority. The mere fact whether there is, or is not, more carbonic acid in glacier water than in common spring or non-glacier river water will be sufficient for my purpose.

I have ben so busy with my orchids & correspondence that I have not yet begun my article on the Aar gorge & its teachings. Perhaps you can ascertain whether any continental geologist has written on that special point, & what conclusions they have arrived at.

We are having our usual gloomy weather here — an hour of sunshine once a week is about all we get. Poor Marshall Hall² is very poorly. His best ear went bad & he was afraid of losing his hearing altogether, & lately he has had some other ailment & has not been out for some weeks. I have an invitation to go to Davos-Platz, by Dr. Lund³, to give a lecture to his Conference, with first class tickets, sleeping car, & accomodation[sic] as long as I like, free. Unfortunately it is in August, but as I have never been in that part of Switzerland I think I shall go.

Should you ever meet at Kew the Superintendent or Foreman of the Orchid House would you just ask him whether they ever exchange duplicates with other amateurs, as I may have some sent me that they have not got, as I have now several friends abroad who will send me a few. What exciting times we are having now! & how J.C. has covered himself with glory! With best wishes for the new year.

Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace

To Clement Reid, Esq.

Parkstone,

Dorset.

January 21st. 1896

My dear Clement Reid

As you are I presume now in London & attending the Meetings of the Geol[ogical]. Society & meeting all sorts & conditions of Geologists, will you be so good as to ascertain from the proper man if the gases in glacier water have been ascertained & get me a reference to the authority. The mere fact whether there is, or is not, more carbonic acid in glacier water than in common spring or non-glacier river water will be sufficient for my purpose.

I have been so busy with my orchids & correspondence that I have not yet begun my article on the Aar gorge & its teachings. Perhaps you can ascertain whether any continental geologist has written on that special point, & what conclusions they have arrived at.

We are having our usual gloomy weather here — an hour of sunshine once a week is about all we get. Poor Marshall Hall¹ is very poorly. His best ear went bad & he was afraid of losing his hearing altogether, & lately he has had some other ailment & has not been out for some weeks. I have an invitation to go to Davos-Platz, by Dr. Lund³, to give a lecture to his Conference, with first class tickets, sleeping car, & accomodation[sic] as long as I like, free. Unfortunately it is in August, but as I have never been in that part of Switzerland I think I shall go.

Should you ever meet at Kew the Superintendent or Foreman of the Orchid House would you just ask him whether they ever exchange dupllicates with other amateurs, as I may have some sent me that they have not got, as I have now several friends abroad who will send me a few. What exciting times we are having now! & how J.C. has covered himself with glory! With best wishes for the new year.

Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace