WCP3842

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

August 22^nd 1906¹

W. Botting Hemsley Esq.

Dear Mr Hemsley,²

Your letter to my wife reached her when she was leaving Hurst, & she asked her sister to send you a copy of the portrait of Mr Mitten. I believe however they had to get some fresh copies printed, & perhaps in the press of business your letter was overlooked. Pray accept Mrs Wallace's apologies. [2]

As to the correction of Moses Hepatica, I hear from Mrs Flora Mitten, that shortly before his death her father told her that he had had an offer from Kew to purchase them, but that he thought the price offered was very inadequate. He therefore instructed her to write at once to a wealthy lady in America who had, some time since, offered to purchase them for some Museum or public Herbarium at a ^on very liberal terms. I believe no [3] reply has yet been received.

Mr Mitten has left me Executor, and as his family are left very scantily provided for I am of course bound to do the best for them that can be done. Mrs Flora Mitten, who carries on the business at Hurst, can I think give you can further particulars as to Mr Mitten's early work if you require it.

My wife tells me that you asked for a photo of myself for the Kew Collection. Although I have no claim whatever to appear among a [4] series of botanists, I send you one of the latest & best of my photos, either for Kew or for myself as may be desired.

Thank you for the information about Escallonia Organensis. There is another plant of which I should much like to obtain a specimen (seedling or rooted cutting) if it is grown at Kew, as no doubt it is. This is [Caesalpenia] pulcherrima (The Pride of Barbados) of which Mrs London says — "Though generally considered a stove plant it is found to live in the open air in London and Paris if slightly protected during winter." I have recently had some seeds from Jamaica, but they do not germinate, so I should like a plant if possible to save time.

Believe me | Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

I am writing to Mrs Mitten about it.³