To Charles R. Bree 25 December 1851

My dear Bree,

Your letter has cleared up the matter. It certainly was Mr Girling to whom I paid 20/- I could not remember before, more than it was someone whose character & reputation I knew without knowing him personally. He sat with me some little time in my dining room - & I also recollect excused himself for not having a printed form of receipt. I dare say I shall find some memorandum or other of the payments though I must hunt back thro' my accounts. I am amused at Mr Mumford's suggestion of excusing me 20/- for a lecture. If I were to prepare & deliver a lecture for anything in the shape of coin, his 20/- ten times time over would not tempt me. Perhaps he does not know that many men in London who engage to lecture for money would not get their diagrams prepared for less than from 10/ to 20/ to 30/- or more each! I shall be happy to pay the lapsed 20/- as well as what I really owe if the Treasurer thinks it right to call upon me after this explanation - & the first opportunity the a/c shall be squared, & fresh payments made [illeg.] as you kindly purpose. I shall be glad to see your diagram & take a hint. I am to give an opening lecture at the New Town Hall at Hadleigh in about a fortnight. I could not well refuse my own post Town, or I should have said - nothing for 3 months may tempt me from home. Where are Liebig's new views about Diastase to be found? You were a lazy fellow not to be at the Soirée. It went off capitally. The 5 larvae of the Epithecia were feeding on Pimpinella saxifraga flowers I saw no others.

Kind regards to Mrs Bree

believe me

Ever truly Yrs

J. S. Henslow