WCP2800

[1]^{1, 2}

Oct[ober]. 19 1900

Dear Sir,

I venture to address you although on but slender grounds of personal acquaintance. My object is this: we have been publishing as a frontis piece in the 'Annals of Botany' yearly the portrait of a botanist along with a short biographical notice of him. This year we intend to bring out one of Richard Spruce³ for which purpose through Mr. Slater of [2] Malton we have secured a photograph. You were I know one of his ultimate friends and of these there are but a few alive who could appreciate his scientific labours & merit. Would you be willing to write for our Annals a short biographical notice of Spruce? Herewith I am sending a copy of a notice of Bentham by Sir J. D. Hooker⁴ which appeared in the Annals. A shorter one of Spruce would suffice.

I beg you will forgive me [3]⁵ for thus troubling you, rescribe my impatient to the desire to have a notice of Spruce — of whom his own generation hardly seems to have measured the capacity of one who from personal knowledge can give it colour hereafter therefrom —

I am, dear Sir, | truly | Isaac Bayley Balfour [signature]

Alfred Russel Wallace, Esq. PSD. FRS.

Corfe View

Parkstone

Dorset.

P.S. Should you as I trust may be the case be willing to write the notice we should wish for it by the middle of November.

[4]⁶