WCP2204

[1]

THE CAMP,

SUNNINGDALE.

Jany 24/94

My dear Wallace

I was not at home when the arrangements were made for Spruce's¹ going to the Amazons, but my belief is, that my father² (possibly aided by the Duke of Bedford³ & others) advanced the funds for his outfit & voyage &c, to be repaid by the collections Spruce might make; my father also procuring promises of subscribers, & engaging that Kew ^{& others} would take living plants & seeds at a fair valuation. What part ^{in the imagination of the affair} Bentham³ took I cannot say, but no doubt a most important one [2] including the laborious task of dividing & distributing the dried specimens, sending them to the subscribers & collecting the payments, thus saving Spruce all the charges of agency &c &c &c.

In this way my father sent out Gardner³ to Brazil & Drummond⁴ to the Southern states of N. Am. Certainly Kew advanced nothing, the mission was practically I believe carried out by my father, who indeed originated it.

I dare say I could ascertain the number of sets of plants distributed & the total number of ticketed specimens — If you cared that I should do so — pray ask freely [3] for any further information that I may possess.

Ever siny yr | Jos. D. Hooker⁵ [signature]