To J. H. Balfour   14 October 1858

My dear Dr Balfour

Your letter (but not the list) has intercepted me here on my return from Paris – I am glad to find Bree’s partial list of British Birds has stired up Mr Sclater to forward a more general one – I sent Brees’ (& Crouch’s also) with the very [line missing from photocopy] induced to give us more general lists of Birds & Fishes –When those now sent in one printed & circulated we shall (no doubt) receive several more & may hope for a tolerably complete series by next meeting – I was truly vexed I could not come– But I had (inter alia) my own fete to attend to close followed up by a visit (with 2 daughters & a Son) to the Paris Exposition – I have learnt a good deal in Paris & am very glad I have been – The contents of the Exposition far exceed those in our Palace of /51- The only thing in which ours excelled was in the general effect from the extensive display in a single Building – The annex is a vast chamber much longer than our Palace, tho’ not so broad- The taste displayed in arranging the goods far surpasses what was showed – I suppose you know your acquaintance Capt. Cockburn (our neighbour at Bilderston) has got the Cossack & has sailed for y ^e Baltic – I believe you \[illeg.] also/ have settled to go to Cheltenham next y ^r. If so I hope I shall be able to be present

Yrs truly | J S Henslow