WCP3563

[1]

(Copy)

Geographical Society, 3 Waterloo Place

November 7th. 1853

Sir

An application for a passage in one of Her Majesty's Ships to some port in the Eastern Archipelago, having been made on my behalf by the Royal Geographical Society a reply¹ was received from the Foreign Office² in August last stating that "the Admiralty have signified to the Earl of Clarendon³ that there is an opportunity of a passage for Mr. Wallace to Trincomalee⁴ but no farther". Being at that time on the Continent, and engaged in the publication of my travels in South America,⁵ I was not prepared to leave England immediately. It was therefore stated in a reply to the Foreign Office that I was at present unable to avail myself of the passage offered, but would be quite ready in the ensuing November.

Since then I have made the necessary preparations and have also through the kind interest of the Royal Geographical Society and the Earl of Clarendon, obtained letters from the Governments of Spain and Holland granting me permission to visit their East Indian possessions for scientific purposes. I therefore, in accordance with a communication from the Foreign Office dated [2] September 27th. 1853⁶ which states, "that Mr. Wallace should apply to the Admiralty when he ^is ready to proceed on his scientific expedition to the Eastern seas, in order that he may be informed whether an opportunity then exists for a passage in one of Her Majesty's Ships to Singapore," — beg leave to say that I shall be now at any time in readiness to accept a passage to Singapore Batavia⁷ or any other port in the Eastern Archipelago, which the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may be pleased to grant me.

I remain │ Your obedient Servant │ Alfred R Wallace [signature]

The Secretary⁸ | to the Lords of the Admiralty.