WCP3919

[1]¹

Hurstpierpoint

7th June 1868

Dear Spruce,

I have been so continuously occupied that I am surprised to see your last note[?] was written in March. I heard from Mr^s Davey² that you are much better than when you were here and are able to sit up and walk about whereat I rejoice.

We are all well, Wallace minor³ runs anywhere and in the pursuit of his investigations has discovered that strawberries and green gooseberries are used as food, as well as earth, stones, sand, leaves, coals, and cock-chafers with which he varies his diet. Wallace Senior and wife are "In Summis Alp[ibus]. Helvet[ia]." [on top of the Swiss Mountains] at present at Champery but intending to locate for a month at Zermat and thence explore the [2] Dent[s] du Midi and other high Mts. They started a week ago last Friday, crossing the sea at night, thence on, without hardly stopping in Paris, to Geneva; they have taken papers and boards to express the juices of all the rare alpine plants they are going to find[,] also boxes and pins on which to stick the new Butterflies, we heard from them where I have said they were and they discoursed eloquently of Orchids & Aquilegia and sent a scrap of Luzula⁴ (nivea I think). W. was going to write to you before he started, but something else took up his time and I promised to let you know: after a long time I got back from Davies⁵ the number of Seemann's⁶ fl[ora].⁷ which I send you with this and with another, when you have quite done with them let me have them again [3] but I do not want them now.

I went up to Bentham's⁸ Linnean and met with a lot of old friends, was immediately introduced by D^r Hooker⁹ to Godman¹⁰ who with Salvin¹¹ has been exploring Guatemala and who had some mosses, next day I ran down to Kew and took a run through the gardens with M^r Baker,¹² lunch with D^r. H[ooker] and took away with me a few crypt[ogam]s.¹³ that I wanted.

I learnt from Baker that Gentiana verna is in plenty where it grows, for Wallace had a notion it was almost exterminated. I bought also a packet of its seed, but learnt afterwards that unless it is sown very soon after it is ripe, it does not readily grow, and this is why mine does not come up after being in the ground over two months.[4]

I have completed as far as I could the Enumeratio Musc. Aust. Amer.¹⁴ and sent it up to the Linn. Soc. last week, and at the same time wrote to D^r. Hooker that I had done so, the only things that I can remember to have omitted is the name for a new genus for which I left the space and forgot to insert: as I have an index I shall be able to tell you the exact numbers of the species I have included in the Enumeration; there will also be some small additions for I have a few more of Burchell's¹⁵ specimens giving localities for some species, but I think none more addit[iona]l species.

I return with this Wilson's¹⁶ letter which you kindly sent for my perusal. [5]

Everything here moves about as it did when you left — we have been doing a grand "Festival" an account of which I send you; beyond this I think there is no local news. My wife and girls are all well and desire to be remembered to you.

Ever truly yours | William Mitten [signature]