WCP2213

[1]¹

Dictated

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

WASHINGTON, D.C.,

October 3, 1894.

Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace,

Parkstone, Dorset, England.

My dear Dr. Wallace:—

I tried to get time to write to you before I left Europe, but as I was constantly on the go I neglected all correspondence and devoted myself to matters in hand. I had a very successful excursion to the Isle of Wight, my success being largely due to the kind offices of Mr. Linten,² whose notes, given me at Parkstone, proved exactly what I wanted in finding just the right people when I got there, and he had even had the goodness to telegraph to his friends and prepare them for my coming. At Kew, when I returned, I met Professor Williamson,³ which was a great treat. From there I went to Paris, where Mrs. Ward⁴ was awaiting me, but it was then so late that I only had four days before I must go to Zurich. The Meeting there, as you know, was a great success and I met many prominent people. The letter that I had from Captain Marshall Hall⁵ proved very useful, and as you have noticed, the Congress gave much prominence to his proposition relative to the systematic study of glaciers.

[2] 2 After the Congress I went to the South of France and spent some time with Saporta,⁶ and from there to Italy to see the collections at Bologna. Then I returned to Paris and we all came home together on a Netherlands steamer from Boulogne-sur-mer. On the whole I consider my voyage a thoroughly successful one, and Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Comstock,⁷ who were in Europe two months longer than I, consider it the event of their lives.

I picked up a good many more plants, both on the Isle of Wight and different parts of the continent, but Mrs. Ward’s collections exceeded mine, so that we have quite a little European herbarium. No part of the botanical side of the trip, however, had anything like the interest for me that our excursion to Corfe Castle afforded. That was indeed and [sic] ideal day and one that I shall always remember. I think we have succeeded in preserving the colors of all the heaths collected and got them all home safely. I was so glad that Mrs. Wallace⁸ was able to be with us on that day. She has no idea how much her presence contributed to my enjoyment of it. Please remember me very kindly to her. I hope you will come to America again and bring her with you so that we can all get acquainted. On the whole I consider my little visit⁹ to Parkstone as the brightest spot in my European experience.

Yours very sincerely, | Lester F. Ward¹⁰ [signature]

[3] 3 P. S. I forgot to say that when I was in Zurich I wrote to Carruthers and told him that if he would like that cycad that we found at Portland he could send for it and that you would let him have it. It was impossible for me to get it to America unless I made you the trouble of packing it, which I did not wish to do. I have not heard from him and do not know whether he sent for it or not.

L. F. W.