WCP4721

[1]¹

Broadstone, Wimborne

May 18th. 1906

Dear Mr. Slater

I have written to Sir Joseph Hooker² & Sir Clements Markham³ and both think Spruces'⁴ Mss. ought to be published and will give any assistance they can.

The list of papers & Mss. you have sent me must I think be imperfect as it makes no reference whatever to his long journeys (2 — 3 years I think) up the Rio Negro, Uaupes, Cassiquiare and Orinoko. He was in a country no botanist had visited [2] since Humboldt5, & had some adventures of an exciting kind. Surely there must be some journals or note books of this extensive journey & exploration.

I see by his "Precis d'un Voyage —" that this Rio Negro & Orinoko journey occupied 3 years, & he gives a slight sketch of it & its botany, occupying 6 pages — but mostly referring to the mosses &c. There must therefore be some Mss. relating to this most important & lengthy journey.

You also mention a list [3] of his drawings in S[outh]. America but you do not state whether you have the drawings themselves. They might be very interesting.

Before applying to Macmillan to know if they will publish the proposed book, I must of course know exactly what materials exist. In any case it will be a very long and troublesome task to piece together the various Mss. determine what to omit, arrange for illustrations & maps, correct proofs &c. I expect it will occupy me for more than a year of [4] continuous work — probably nearer 2 years from now till the book is finally out of hand & published. I should therefore like to know what are your ideas as to your interest in the materials in your possession; whether you will do any of the work or leave it all to me, & if I succeed in inducing Macmillan ^{(or any other publisher)} to publish it & give pay a Royalty what share of it you would think fair to reserve for yourself.

Please write freely on all these points[.]

Yours very truly | Alfred R Wallace [signature]