WCP798

Letter (WCP798.970)

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming

March 30th. 1882

My dear Wright1

I was sorry not to meet you at Dublin. I had a very pleasant week there thanks to the unexampled friendliness of Dr. Haughton2 — my oldest scientific opponent who might have felt sore at my unsparing criticism of some of his writings. I had no occasion to make use of the rooms you so kindly placed at my disposal, as my few [2] spare hours were spent at the reading room of the Dublin Society.

I paid two visits to your Trinity Coll. Botanic Garden, and Mr. Burbidge3 kindly promised to send me a few spare plants for the garden I am making here, & which is my chief occupation & delight. I suppose he is not exceeding his powers in doing so, and if your confirmation of his promise is necessary I feel sure you will give it. I am trying to get together a choice selection of all the best herbaceous [3] plants, especially alpine plants, bog plants, & bulbs. I spent Monday on the Hill of Howth (under the guidance of Mr Maxwell Close)4 near which I understand you live. Should you at any time be in London & have a day to spare I trust you will run down here & see me.

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Wright, Edward Percival (1834-1910). Irish ophthalmic surgeon, botanist and zoologist.
Haughton, Samuel (1821-1897). Irish geologist and physiologist.
Burbridge, Frederick William (1847-1905). Botanist, artist and curator of Trinity College Botanic Garden 1879-1905.
Close, Maxwell Henry (1822-1903). Church of England clergyman and geologist. Treasurer of the Royal Irish Academy.

Please cite as “WCP798,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP798