WCP4730

[1]¹

Broadstone, Wimborne

Nov[emb]^er 7th. 1906

Dear Mr Slater

I have written to Macmillan about publishing such of Spruce's² journals and articles as are available, under any Editorship.

They agree to do so, and offer a Royalty of 20 p[er].c[ent][?] on sales, and an advance payment of £50 on publication.

They say they could expect more than a very moderate sale of such a book, and reserve complete freedom to as to size price of[?] it[?]

Of course the loss of the [2] whole of the Peruviani[?] journals will add considerably to my work to make up something in place of it.

Also the letters at Kew must be copied on type-writer there, & will cost I estimate about £10, & there will be of course other expenses, besides a great deal of rather worrying to work, even with the "journals", as a great deal must be omitted & the rest pieced together.

[3] Even at the best I do not expect it to pay me for the time & work I must give to it, but I would greatly wish that Spruce's work should be made public.

I therefore propose to share the £50; less out of pocket, with you; as owner of the Mss — taking myself whatever may come from the Royalty afterwards.

If you prefer it however I would agree for you to [4] have, one fifth of the receipts from Royalty, in addition to the £5 out of the advances payment.

Please inform me which you prefer, on whither[sic] you can propose any other arrangement.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]