WCP6988

[1]¹

Kitwells,

Shenley,

Herts.

June 16, 1914

The President

The Linnean Society.

Dear Sir

It has been suggested to me that the Linnean Society would welcome the gift of the library of the late Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace which has recently come into my hands. If this is the case it will give me great pleasure to present it to the Society, but I [2] wonder whether it is [1 word illeg.] that very many of the books do not deal with biological subjects. While there would be no objection to the weeding out of the less interesting books, I am afraid Mr. Wallace's family would feel aggrieved if the library was [1 word illeg.] by the exhibition of all but those books which had a biological bearing as I believe they desired the collection to be kept as a sort of memorial of him. [3]

Perhaps you will be kind enough to give the matter some consideration and will afterwards is [1 word illeg.] know whether [3 words illeg.] the Society wil entertain my offer.

I may add that Island with treasure from there is from volumes of my own library.

I am Sir,

Very truly,

[signature] T. H. Riches