WCP3577

[1]¹

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Oct[obe]^r 7^th 1908

Dr J Scott Keltie,

Dear Sir,

I am just finishing up proofs of Dr Spruce's Travels and in giving a list of his ^published writings have come across ones 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(sp), a Tributary of the Amazon By Mr. Richard Spruce².

It occupies 13 pages ⁱⁿ rather small type, not like that of any journal &c. for a society 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 13^th. 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 Salgado³— 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? Could Sir C Markham⁴ [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 Heawood⁵ are most likely to remember something about it; and I shall be much obliged for any information.

Yours very truly | Alfred R Wallace [signature]