WCP6710

[1]^1,2,3

Keota, Keokuk County[,] Iowa

U.S.A.

April 21^st 1914

D. Prain Esq[.]⁴

Director Royal Botanical Gardens,

Kew

England!

My Dear Sir,

I received your kind answer of March 24^th to mine of March 11^th 1914 and return many thanks for your kindness in making prompt reply: I shall look forward to the publication of the Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Hooker⁵ by his wife Lady Hooker⁶ with much interest. Some years ago, I had written to Dr Alfred Russel Wallace, in regard to the publication of his letters, stating that there were so few scattered through his "My Life"⁷, and that by forming a volume or so of his letters would be quite interesting to us younger naturalists! Whether Mr Wallace had done so I do not know as I had received no news to that effect during his last years of his life: I notice in one of the Journals that I am taking, that the correspondence of Linnea⁸ [sic] is greatly sought for, in this country and as Linneaus died on January 20 1778, which makes it over a hundred years since his death, I think that it will be quite a task in procuring any, but there might be, in some of the older institutions of this country. Should there be, no doubt that a new Life and Letters will be published of this Prince of Naturalists, that no doubt will be of the greatest importance of us younger naturalists!

It always gives me great pleasure in reading the Lives and Letters of great naturalists, and it is from their perusal that I gain such information that assists me in my own studies: Some years ago I had written quite a biographical sketch of Linnea [sic] which was published in Burlington Iowa Saturday Evening Post⁹, and was copied in some of our leading papers of the day. To be sure, I had but scanty material with which to write this sketch, but I believe that it done some good among the young people whose predlications [sic] were turned in that line of study. In noticing many things had pertained more of less[?] to Linnea [sic] at the Missouri Botanic Gardens¹⁰located at St Louis MO gave me some idea of writing this sketch, and as I was acquainted with Mr Shaw¹¹, he took great pleasure as well as interest in showing me many things that was [sic] of great interest to me, hence, the sketch of [2] [p. 2]¹² of Linneaus was written!

By the way, I have just been looking[?] over some of my printed papers, and find two or three of these sketches still remaining and will enclose one to you. I suppose that you have much matter pertaining to Linnea [sic] in your library that is of much value even to the botanist of today!¹³

My niece, Mrs Blanche K. Freece¹⁴ of New York City, while travelling through England and the continent in 1910 and 1911, sent to me from your garden in March 1911, your "Popular Guide and Souvenir" of which gives me some interesting history of the struggle and growth of the garden, it is just so with all other gardens with which I am acquainted, in placeing [sic] there upon a scientific basis!

Trusting that I shall hear from you at some future time. I remain

Yours Very Truly | A. S. Van Winkle [signature] | Keota | Keokuk Co | Iowa | U.S.A.