WCP2214

Letter (WCP2214.2104)

[1]

Greatham Vicarage

Stockton on Tees

22 Dec[embe]r 1868

My dear Wallace

The only other papers I have published on the Physical Geography of Palestine, are the first three chapters of my "Natural Hist[ory]. of the Bible" S[ociety]. [for] P[romoting]. C[hristian]. K[nowledge].1 7/6.

My Royal Society paper is not published, & I have [2] not a M.S. copy of it, or I w[oul]d. have sent you one— I believe my chapters in the book I have mentioned are contain the only published information on this subject, except Lartet’s2 Geological papers in the French Transactions3. De Saulcy4 is utterly valueless & has more mistakes than facts, calls flint-charts volcanic lava, & sunbirds humming birds &c. [3] Lynch5 is only good for the Jordan & Dead Sea topographically, but his geology is wildly at fault— The best paper on the Dead Sea is Grove’s article in Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible (Murray) under the head "Salt Sea."6 In the same work under the head ‘Palestine’ you will find the most copious collection of meristem [?] by Hooker7, from myself & others.8 I think these will give you all you want.

With best wishes of the [3] season from our circle & compliments to Mrs Wallace9[.]

Y[ou]rs most truly | H. B. Tristram [signature]

A R Wallace Esqr

1
Tristram refers to his chapters on 'Physical Geography of the Holy Land', 'Geology' and 'Meterology'. See Tristram, H. B. (1867). The Natural History of the Bible, Being a Review of the Physical Geography, Geology and Meteorology of the Holy Land: With a Description of Every Animal and Plant Mentioned in Holy Scripture. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. pp.13-46.
2
Lartet, Louis (1840-1899). French geologist and paleontologist. Professor of geology at the University of Toulouse 1873-1899.
3
See Lartet L. 1865. Sur la formation du bassin de la Mer morte ou lac Asphaltite, et sur les changements survenus dans le niveau de ce lac. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 2nd series, 22: 420-463; Lartet L. 1866. Recherches sur les variations de la salure de l'eau de la Mer Morte en divers points de sa surface et à différentes profondeurs, ainsi que sur l'origine probable des sels qui entrent dans sa composition. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 2nd series, 23: 719-760; Lartet, L. Sur les gîtes bitumineux de la Judée et de la Coelé-Syrie, et sur le mode d'arrivée de l'asphalte au milieu des eaux de la Mer Morte. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 2nd series, 24: 12-31.
4
Saulcy, Louis Félicien de (1807-1880). French archaeologist and numismatist.
5
Lynch, William Francis (1801-1865). American naval officer; leader of a successful expedition to the Dead Sea in 1847.
6
Grove, G. 1863. Sea, the Salt. 1173-1187. In: (Ed.) Smith, W. (Ed). A Dictionary of the Bible: Comprising its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History. 3. London: John Murray.
7
Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1817-1911). British botanist and explorer.
8
Tristram, H. B. et. al. 1863. Palestine. 660-695. In: (Ed.) Smith, W. (Ed). A Dictionary of the Bible: Comprising its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History. 2. London: John Murray.
9
Wallace (née Mitten), Annie (1846-1914). Wife of ARW; daughter of William Mitten, chemist and authority on bryophytes.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP2214.2104)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by O'Dell, Sandra [2015-05-21] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2015-05-21] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2020-09-15]

Please cite as “WCP2214,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2214