WCP2347

Letter (WCP2347.2237)

[1]1

Encyclopedia Britannica2, 3

Edinburgh S[ain]t. Andrews.4

22. Feb[ruary]. 18775

Dear Sir,

May I ask whether you could undertake an article on Distribution (of life animal & vegetable)6 in time & space for the new edition of the Ency[clopedia]: Britannica. The article should I suppose give in outline (so far as our knowledge goes) the chief zones and Eras[?] of life on the Globe, with the conditions & forms[?] of existence[?] of each period. It must of course [2] be a mere sketch, but as it is a subject you have[?] precisely[?] studied[?] you might be able to give such a sketch without much difficulty. On hearing from you I will write more in detail. But as the matter[?] rather[?] presses[?] I should be obliged of an answer at your early convenience.

Very truly yours | Th[oma]s: S Baynes7 [signature]

Alfred R. Wallace Esq[uire].

1
Text in another hand at the top right of the page reads "365".
2
The printed text "Encyclopedia Britannica" is placed in the top left of the page and text in another hand, written across it, reads "Answ[ere]d.".
3
The Encyclopedia Britannica is the oldest english language encyclopedia still being produced. It was first published in 1768 and 1771 in Edinburgh and the 9th edition (1875-1889), to which Wallace contributed, was noted for its scholarship and literary style. Wikipedia.
4
In 1864, Baynes was appointed to the chair of logic, metaphysics and English literature at the University of Saint Andrews, a post he held until his death. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
5
The date is written on a printed dotted line adjacent to the text "Edinburgh". The digits "187" are printed.
6
Wallace contributed information on the Distribution of Animal Life, while William Turner Thiselton-Dyer (1843-1928) wrote on the Distribution of Vegetable Life. Wallace A. R., and Thiselton-Dyer, T., (1875-1889). Distribution in Encyclopedia Britannica, Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh, 9th edition, 25 vols. Vol 7, pp. 267-286 by Wallace; pp. 286-290 by Thiselton-Dyer. S286, The Alfred Russel Wallace Page <http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/index1.htm> [accessed 1 June 2015].
7
There is a British Museum stamp in red ink below the signature.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP2347.2237)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Ghosh, Susan [2015-06-24] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2015-06-24] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10]

Please cite as “WCP2347,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2347