WCP3577

[1]¹

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Oct^r 7th 1908

Dr J Scott Keltie²

Dear Sir,

I am just finishing up proofs of Dr Spruce's³ Travels⁴ & in giving a list of his ^published writings have come across one which I cannot locate, In a bound volume of his "Opuscula" among ten others, mostly in Botany, and all known, is one headed:

On the River Purius, a Tributary of the Amazon. By Mr. Richard Spruce.

It occupies 13 pages ⁱⁿ rather small type, not like that of any Journal &c. for a Society that I know. The whole is printed in inverted commas, as if an extract. I think from [2] a letter to someone, as it is signed at the end "Richard Spruce" — and dated "June 13th. 1864.”

As this was only a fortnight after his reaching England, it had probably been written during his voyage home, but revised, & with notes written in London.

It consists mostly of the translation of a report of a voyage of a Brazilian—Seraphim da Silva Salgado⁵— and appears to have been the first journey up to the limit of navigation of the river. It is dated Dec. 1892.

Can you tell me who printed this, and where it was published, if at all? I do not think Spruce know Sir C. Markham [illeg] they travel through the [illeg.] Could Sir C Markham⁶ [3] have had it printed for private circulation? I do not like to trouble him about things of so long ago, and do not know whether he is away from London, — but he gave me a List of Spencer's writings publications ^{in Mss. written by} himself and it does not include this.

I write to you because either you or Mr Heawood⁷ are most likely to remember something about it; and I shall be much obliged for any information.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]