WCP5614

Letter (WCP5614.6381)

[1]

9. St. Mark's Crescent

Regent's Park.

Thursday1 [20-27[?] April 1865]2

My dear Hanbury /

I have this morning rec[eive]d a kind note from Mrs. Hanbury3 to say that she proposed sending the carraige for me this afternoon, and I immediately replied by a Telegram, requesting it might not be sent, for reasons which I will now state.

Two notable ladies, the Duchess of Sutherland4 and Lady Taunton5, many years ago friends and neighbours of mine, having heard that a pension had been solicited for me, have undertaken to further my suit with L[or]d. Palmerston6, & I think they may succeed — at any rate, if they do not, the scientific recommendations will plainly fall to the ground. Lady Taunton writes to say that she will visit me on Saturday & let me know the result, so that I cannot well stir far from home until after that day.

If next Monday would suit you, I think I may then be free to avail myself of Mrs. Hanbury's hospitable invitation, & I beg you will tell her so, with many comp[liment]s on my part.

[2] I have just rec[eive]d the enclosed from the widow and family of my ancient friend Dr. Dufour7, lately dead at 86.

Believe me as ever | Most Truly yours | Richd Spruce. [signature]

1
A later annotation of "in 1865 ?" is written underneath "Thursday".
2
The year of 1865 can be confirmed based on Leon Dufour's death of 18 April 1865. Dufour was a close family friend of Spruce and the letter form Dufour's wife probably came shortly after his death. If Spruce sent this letter during April it would be 20 Thursday April 1865 as the earliest possible dating.
3
Hanbury (née Christy) Rachel, (1802/3-1876). Mother of Daniel Hanbury (1825-1875) and wife of Daniel Bell Hanbury (1794-1882).
4
Gower (née Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard), Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Leveson- (1806-1868). Duchess of Sutherland.
5
Labouchere (née Howard), Mary Matilda Georgiana (1823-1892). Lady Taunton.
6
Temple, Henry John (1784-1865). Third Viscount Palmerston. British Prime Minister, 1855-88 and 1859-65.
7
Dufour, Léon Jean Marie (1780-1865). French naturalist.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP5614.6381)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Hamburger, Esther [2015-01-22] Transcription checked by Costa, Leslie [2020-03-19]

Please cite as “WCP5614,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP5614