Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

AMAZONIAN VEGETATION 349
character of the very interesting writer, and also
that of Spruce himself, who could excite such
enthusiastic affection (though this will surprise none
who knew him intimately), I will here give the
more interesting portions of it.]
Senor Santander to Sefior Don Ricardo Spruce
MY MUCH-THOUGHT-OF AND NEVER - FORGOTTEN
FRIEND- -The receipt of your much-desired and con-
solatory letter has filled me and my family with joy,
especially on seeing the portrait that accompanied it.
But what a notable difference it presents from that
you sent us in 1 864, which showed you
much the same
as we had known you, whereas this last shows you
with a beard as white as the snow of Chimborazo,
and a stoutness that (for you) is extreme. \Yhat
time makes in the features one would
changes
think from this portrait you were seventy years
old!
[Then
follows an account of his own domestic
troubles : the death of his eldest son, the dangerous
illness of his wife, and the loss of a fine mastiff,
" our old and faithful friend and the guardian of
our house !
" He then continues :]
Notwithstanding these calamities, I did all I
could to procure the specimens of Cinnamon for Mr.
H anbury, but I have found it impossible.
I availed myself of Padre
In the first place,
Fierro, our friend, and in effect he sent the desired
specimens by Pacho Gallegos and Jose Torres.
But see what happened. The Padre's nephew ran
away
from Canelos and carried off all his uncle's
clothes, some ounces of gold,
a gun, etc. II