WCP2862

Letter (WCP2862.2752)

[1]1

THE CAMP.

SUNNINGDALE.

Novr 21 1906

My dear Wallace

I have just received a brief note from Lady Markham, informing me that Sir Clements2 is at present out of England & is not expected to return before the first "days of December." As his present abode is not given, I gather that he is not to be disturbed. She adds, however "I am sure Sir Clements would gladly have joined you in trying to get a grant of money for this Life of Spruce"3,4

I have also received your letter5 with its enclosure. I entirely forgot [2] the existence of a "Government Publication grant" — though I must have heard of it. It dates I see only from 1899. It is of course to its administration that your application should be addressed & will be referred. But what will you do about Sir Clements Markham?

Whether you wait for his return or not, I am quite ready to offer you a statement of my views of the great importance of Spruce’s letters &c to accompany your letter, & to do my little [illeg.] with men on the Council.

Meanwhile I return your letter. I would be sorry to lose Sir Clements’ support, & hence suggest waiting his return.

Ever sincerely yrs | Jos D Hooker6 [signature]

In ARW’s handwriting, "Answd. wait for Sir C. M."
Markham, Clements Robert (1830-1916). British geographer, explorer, and writer. Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society 1863-88.
Spruce, Richard (1817-1893). British botanist, explorer and collector in the Amazon; lifelong friend of ARW.
Wallace, A. R. ed. 1908. Richard Spruce. Notes of a botanist on the Amazon and Andes. London: Macmillan & Co. Two volumes.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1817-1911). British botanist and explorer. Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1865-85. President of the Royal Society 1873-78.

Please cite as “WCP2862,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2862