WCP2851

[1]

21 Eccleston Square

S.W.

17 May 1906

My dear Mr^. Wallace

I am very glad to hear that you have at last got a list of the M. S. S. materials left by Dr. Spruce¹; and I am quite convinced that, under your editorship, a selection of them would form a most attractive volume; quite equal, in that respect, to Bates's² book. All he did, the thorough [2] conscientiousness of his work, and all he wrote inspired me with the utmost confidence in Spruce as an accurate observer.

I can send you a list of all his publications in the Linnean Society's Journal, Phytologist, Hooker's³ Journal, R.G.S. Journal, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, American Naturalist, Chinchona Blue Books &c &c, and Geographical Magazine. The list is at p. 274 of my book on Peruvian Bark published by Murray in 1880. But I am afraid I have not kept any of Spruce's letters that would [3] be of interest. One of his ablest papers was written for me, and printed, but not in any periodical, on the valleys of Piura and Chira in northern Peru and on the cotton cultivation (1864). Spruce also wrote a note for me (Chandry[?] 1882) on the tradition respecting the expedition of Aguirre, amongst the Indians of the Huallagua. It showed what close attention he gave to the folk lore of the Indians. I suppose you will only deal with the M. S. S. I shall be glad to help in any way in my power.

Ever | yours sincerely | Clements R. Markham [signature]

I used to visit Spruce at Coneythorpe