From William Oliver to William Kemp   31 Aug 1842

My Dear Sir

What have you been about this long time? Still administering to your geological predilections I suppose; for when once such studies fairly take hold, the craving for advancement in them knows no bounds.

I am going to send you over two or three specimens of the remains of the Holoptychius Nobilissimus of Agassiz; they consist of impressions of scales and of the remains of some of the scales of that fish. The specimens are by no means so perfect as I could wish but I could get no better at the time. I visited the locality where they are found, by the bye we were within 2 or 3 hundred yards of the spot when we went over Wineburgh hill near Langburnshiels. I daresay you remember the red sandstone running in below the trap covering of the hill on the Rulewater side at a spot laid open by a small runner A. The place where the Holoptychius is found is in a cleugh B a few hundred yards to the right from our then course

It is altogether likely that you may already have specimens of the fossil in question and may be perfectly acquainted with so much as is known of its history but if you should want any information about it you will meet with it in “Miller’s Old Red Sandstone”

It may be some days before you receive the stones. I shall send them into your brother at Hawick.

Have you no idea of taking a trip somewhere in our direction this autumn? I should like very much, if at leisure, to have a few days with you.

I remain | very truly Yours | W^m Oliver

M^r William Kemp | Galashiels