From Searles Valentine Wood 27 November 1853

My dear Sir

Altho I have given away my Crag shells it is by no means my intention to give up collecting I thought that as I had made public what I knew about them that any one so disposed ought to be permitted the right of seeing whether the story I had told of them were really a true one & they were placed in the National Museum for that purpose

The study of the Crag Formation has constituted one of the greatest pleasures of my life & to sever the intimate connexion we have formed wo ^d be an evil I strongly deprecate. I am sometimes almost half disposed to wish that when they are taking me my last journey [ JSH writes above ‘in a stratum vs new…’] the middle of a Crag Pit so that we might never be separated. Joking apart I sho ^d be happy to assist you in your most laudable endeavours as I am a sincere well wisher to the general increase of knowledge more especially among the lower Classes where it is so much needed it is I believe one of the best means of removing that bad feeling which has so long subsisted between them & those above them most reprehensible in the latter. I have always thought that by improving the lowest those above wo ^d for their own sakes advance. My visits into Suffolk are few & far between I go there about twice a year to pay my respects to a Father now verging upon eighty nine & when there I go & hunt Collectors (instead of the Pits as formerly) to see if I can get any thing new to put into “my Book”. Generally [JSH writes above ‘not self’] speaking Collectors do not give much away & will seldom part with more than their third or fourth rate specimens being reluctant to spoil the beauty & richness of their Collections. The common & characteristic specimens are in my opinion quite sufficient for general information & good enough for local Museums indeed I think there is a great evil in having choice & unique specimens buried in Provincial Establishments. I wished much to have examined in London a specimen in the Cambridge Museum & applied for permission to remove it but was informed it co ^d not be done & I am now about applying to another Provincial Museum for a similar permission perhaps with the same result. All good fossils ought to be in London where anyone [JSH has written above ‘from Edinb?’] can see them altho I have ever found a readiness with private individuals to oblige.

I am now turning my attention to my Cabinet of Lond. Clays without however intending to turn my back upon my Old Friends but I find with a limited number of Cabinets one is obliged to economize for room. Hoping you have got rid of your worst of “isms” & with thanks for your kind wishes

Believe me my Dear Sir | yours very truly | Searles Wood