WCP3915

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

Jan[uar]^y 14th, 1908

My dear Hooker

Many thanks for your information as to your recollection of Spruce's Collections &c. I wrote to Prof. Oliver, but he could tell me very little.

Yes — the earlier pictures of Spruce's¹ Collection were sent to Mr. Bentham³ in Goucestershire.

My idea was, that, as Mr. Bentham repeatedly in his letter to Spruce lays great stress on the importance of sending the sets to purchasers [2] named, Mr. B[entham] must have at least but the Generic name to each, and I presume, "n.s.", or "Spruce," MSS" name, to all he did not himself describe. I presume also, he must have kept, for reference a consecutive list of Spruce's "numbers" — with either the known names, or his or Spruce's names of the new species.

Did not any such List, come to Kew with Mr. Bentham's Letter &c.? If so the proportion of new to already described species would be approximately [3] determined by a count.

A good botanist could also I presume, easily pick out the forest trees, from the herbacious plants &c. I asked Mr. Hemsley³ long ago if there was anything of the kind, but he did not know.

I though perhaps Mr. Bentham might have given some estimate of his ^Spruce's whole collection in one of his Presidential Addresses at The Linn[ean] Soc[iety] or elsewhere, but I know not how to find it.

I sent you yesterday, by [4] Parcel Post — in the same way as it was sent to me — the Biog[raphy?] part of the Flora Brasilensis² which you were so good as to lend me — I got a few details out of it, but there is hardly any thing but long enumerations of facts & dates, and of places visited by each Collector.

Do not trouble to reply to this unless you hit upon any further information. Thanking you for your assistance.

I am, | Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Sir Jos.[eph] D.[alton] Hooker