WCP3715

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Sept[embe]r. 12th. 1908

Dr. B. Daydon Jackson¹

Dear Sir

I have an extract from one of the late M. G. Bentham's² Addresses to the Linn.[aean] Society, giving an estimate of D^r. Spruces³ botanical work in S.[outh] America, but I have no date for it. I think it was probably in the first year of his Presidency, 1863 — as Spruce came home in 1804, and had finished his chief collection 3 years before.

It begins — "His researches into [2] the vegetation of the interior of South America have been the most important we have had since the days of Humboldt"⁴ and ends —

"and complete sets deposited in the National Herbarium at Kew."

I shall be much obliged obliged[sic] if you will look this up for me, and also if when found you will see if there is any further reference to Spruce's work suitable for including in a Biographical Introduction I [3] am writing for his "Notes of a Botanist in the Amazon Valley &c. &c.." now nearly finished printing.

If there is more please send me the volume to look at.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]