6o 
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE HERBARIUM. 
In 1837, Mr. Spruce compiled a list of the Flora of the Malton 
district, and soon after he was appointed as Mathematical teacher 
at the Collegiate School, York. 
It was during his residence in York that he cultivated the friend¬ 
ship of such botanists as Oswald Allen Moore, Henry Baines, 
James Backhouse. 
Mr. Spruce’s botanical work in Yorkshire is embodied in Baines’ 
“ Flora Yorkshire,” 1840, and Supplement, 1854, an d several 
contributions to the Phytologist, &c. 
In 1842 he visited Ireland, and along with Dr. Thomas Taylor 
devoted much attention to the Cryptogams of the remarkably rich 
districts of Kerry and Cork, whose Hepatic flora bears such a 
striking resemblance to that of the Andes. 
During 1841-5 he wrote various papers on the Mosses and 
Hepatics of Eskdale, Teesdale, and other localities in Yorkshire. 
He then spent many months in the Pyrenees, which resulted 
in his “ Muscology of the Pyrenees.” This journey was under¬ 
taken with a view to restoring his somewhat delicate health, and 
it is interesting to know that the Yorkshire Philosophical Society 
possesses some of the botanical specimens that Mr. Spruce col¬ 
lected during his excursions in the Pyrenees ; also interesting 
specimens from Heslington fields, York. Since the drainage and 
enclosure of these fields (1850), many of the plants such as Carex 
pavadoxa have disappeared, hence the specimens in the herbarium 
are invaluable. 
Mr. Spruce’s remarkable botanical zeal brought him into contact 
with Dr. Hooker, and other eminent botanists. 
On the 7th June, 1849, he left Liverpool for the purpose of 
exploring the Amazons, and for the next fifteen years he was 
engaged in investigating the remarkable Flora of South America, 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. 
On the 12th July, 1849, he landed at Para, and during his stay 
in this city he investigated the flora of the neighbourood. From 
Para he proceeded up the Amazon to Santarem, where he found 
(the now celebrated Dr.) Alfred Russell Wallace engaged in 
collecting information relative to the fauna and flora of South 
America. From Santarem Mr. Spruce explored a large portion of 
the country, particularly along the Tapajoz and parts of the 
Amazons. 
The following letter, which was written to his friend Mr. Baines, 
gives a graphic description of Mr. Spruce’s labours during this 
