WCP4729

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

Oct[ob]^er 23rd. 1906

Dear Mr Slater

As a last resource I wrote to Sir Clements Markham¹ thinking that Spruce² might possibly have lent the Andean journals to him. He was abroad, but now writes to me, that he never saw them, — but that "the Tarapoto journals are certainly a most serious loss" — and again at the end of the letter — "The loss of these journals is most deplorable" —

In I looking over ^again the papers &c. I have, I find in a lot of notes on the Geology & Mineralogy [2] there is a page of notes headed

"Tarapoto — Mineralogy — From my journal."

Also in other papers & letters there referring to the Andes — are the there is here & there a note "see journal".

I hope therefore that you will not altogether give up the search.

Is it possible that he could have lent the "journals" to any of the "Howard" family, though I think is very unlikely, yet if you think it possible you might enquire.

I have written to Kew [3] to know what letters there are [illegible crossed out word] from Tarapoto, and the Andes, & when I hear I will write to Macmillan but it will be most unsatisfactory work at the best if the "journals" are not found.

Perhaps bound vol[ume]s. are most likely to be overlooked among other books — as that of the Orinoco³ was overlooked. Have you emptied every shelf where there are books of any kind, to see that they are not at the back?

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[4]⁴