[1]

BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY),

CROMWELL ROAD,

LONDON: S.W.

June 29, 1909

J. C. Simpson Esq.

Christ's College

Cambridge

 

Dear Simpson,

You were kind enough to say that you would perhaps be able to lend us certain things for our Darwin Exhibition here. Could you lend us the First Edition of any of the following works:—

Geological observations

Origin of Species

Movements of Climbing Plants

Earthworms.

I find that we are not likely to require any of the other things of yours I had marked in the Catalogue.

I have various promises, from members of the Darwin family, to lend us things when your Exhibition is broken up. Would you be so very kind as to make arrangements for keeping back the things that have been lent to us, instead of returning them to their owners. I would of course send you a list of the numbers I am authorized to borrow.

Do you think you could add to the obligation by getting someone to pack them carefully and to send them here? It would be necessary to have them properly insured and in fact to take all precautions against loss.

Or I could, if you thought it advisable, send a man down to take personal charge of the specimens. Please give nothing to anyone who has not got a written authorization from me.

I remain

yours sincerely

S. F. Harmer