WCP3843

[1]¹

Broadstone, Wimborne

Oct[obe]^r 21^st, 1906

Dear Mr Hemsley,

I am sorry to say that all Spruce's² "Journals" during his long residence and exploratios in Peru and Equador — a period of more than eight years — cannot be found. I have a short "itinerary" in a little book lettered outside —"List of Botanical Excursions" — beginning in 1841 in Yorkshire, & continuing unbroken till he left Peru, & even to his landing at Southampton. All the latter part of this — from 1852 to end — is written apparently with the same pen & ink — therefore, [2] undoubtedly copied from his "journals" after his arrival in England. The Peruvian part of this is quite as full as the previous part. I have also references to his "Journal" in Ecuador & Peru, in private letters. Yet Mr Slater³, after repeated searches cannot find them!

I find also, from a list of his printed letters & papers — that none of his letters to Sir W Hooker & Mr Bentham were printed later, than 1854. Can you be so good as to let me know how many [3] letters there were from Dr Spruce.to Sir William Hooker⁴ & Mr Bentham⁶ — either from Taropoto, Peru or (July 1855 to March 1857) — or from — Banos, Ecuador, (July 1857 to Jan[uar]^y 1858) or at any later dates up to May 1864, when he sailed for England. Also, roughly, the number of pages in each letter, or in the whole series.

Till I know the amount of this material, I cannot ascertain whether Macmillan or any other publisher will undertake [4] the proposed book.

In case I should require to use the letters, I presume there is at Kew some type-writer, who could be allowed to make copies for me at about the usual terms — 1/- a thousand words.Spruce's writing was generally very distinct.

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R Wallace [signature]