To George Knights 19 April 1854

My dear Knights,

I forward by Webb on Thursday 3 logs of wood, which I wished sawed up into specimens in the manner shown in the paper sent. One of each may be retained for the museum & I want the rest for my private eating[?]. They are too hard for a Village Saw & I dare say Messrs Ransome will favour us with a turn or two of their circular-saw. The sloped surfaces should then be smoothed & polished to show the grain, but no varnish of any sort put upon them. I will write to Rob. Ransome & ask him to allow this. I am to be in Town on Wednesday (tomorrow week) & think of sleeping at Ipswich on Tuesday that I may come to the Mus. before I go to Cambridge. I am afraid the election agitation may make it troublesome for any one interested in these proceedings, to receive me for a night - but perhaps Mr R. Ransome (if at home) would not object. Will you let me know who of my usual accommodating friends are in Ipswich, & I will venture to ask one of them for a bed. If you think this unadvisable perhaps you can secure me a bed at one of the hotels. Do you think you could securely pack the Aegilops specimen & send it by Webb on some fine day? I could not bring it away on account of the rain & I shall want it at Cambridge. The danger lies in its being on paper, & a poke will see a hole thro' it. Perhaps a spline or two over a corner of matting will be sufficient security. I am to carry to S. Kensington the rest of my Carpological series, & to look out at K lots of specimens for work of a similar kind to be executed under direction - so that I hope on return from Cambridge to get up some of the sort worth looking at at Ipswich

Yrs very truly

J. S. Henslow