British naturalist, explorer, and biologist (1823-1913) best known for proposing a theory of natural selection which prompted Charles Darwin to publish his own. ALS signed “Alfred R. Wallace,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, December 21, 1892. Handwritten letter to English botanist and taxonomist Maxwell T. Masters on a political matter concerning the opening of Kew Gardens to the public, in part: "A letter I wrote to Mr. Churchill on the subject was shown to Dyer, & by him shown to Shaw Lefevre,—in which, while stating reasons for not opening the Gardens earlier to the public I strongly urged the simultaneous opening of the Museums & North Gallery at noon, against which there can be no objections whatever but of the small extra cost of supervision. I wish that had also been included in the Memorial, as it would have shown that botanists are thoughtful of the public (who it must be remembered pay for the gardens) as well as of themselves. I told Mr. Churchill I would not sign the Memorial unless this was included, & I only do so now because I know my protest has come before the First Commissioner. It is simply a cruel piece of red-tapeism to shut up all the place of shelter in the Gardens during the first hour." In fine condition.
In 1892, it was suggested that Kew Gardens be opened to the public at 9 o'clock in the morning instead of the then-set hour of 12 o'clock noon. As one of Great Britain's eminent naturalists, Wallace's opinion was naturally solicited. Though he was a strong advocate for free public spaces—he was, after all, the president of the Land Nationalization Society—he also recognized that the scientific value of Kew Gardens might be inhibited by being open to the public. He had frequently gone to the Gardens before their public opening, where he was allowed to handle the plants and to make investigations of a minute character that would be wholly impossible if the public generally were admitted at the same time. A fascinating, historic letter regarding one of the world's largest and most diverse botanical gardens.
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