[1]1
H.M.S "Frolic",2 Spithead,
Feb[ruary]. 4th. 1854
Dear Sir3
Thinking there may still be time, I take the liberty of writing to request through you, that the Lords of the Admiralty,4 having kindly granted me a passage to Australia in this Ship, will also be so good as to furnish me with a letter, recommending the Commanders of Ships on the Australian & East Indian Stations to offer me such facilities as may be in their power for exploring any of the little known Islands which they may touch at.
Such a recommendation I feel sure would be of great importance to me, by enabling to me to visit places inaccessible or unsafe for the ordinary [2] traveller.
I have been furnished by Lord Clarendon5 (at the recommendation of the Royal Geographical Society)6 with a general letter of recommendation7 to Her Majesty’s Consuls; and8 I venture to hope that the Lords of the Admiralty, whom I beg leave again to thank for the favours they have already granted me, — may be willing to assist me further in the manner abovementioned.
Any information you may be able to give me as to the probable time of the "Frolic's" sailing would also much oblige,
Your obedient humble servant | Alfred R Wallace [signature]
Capt[ai]n W. A. B. Hamilton R. N.9 Dr Norton Shaw Sec[retary] R[oyal]. G[eographical]. S[ociety]
Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP3556.3453)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP3556,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3556