From Charles Roach Smith   26 December 1855

My dear Sir,

I merely wish to place before you facts which evidently you have never known; – not to bias your judgment, or attempt to influence it. The £3,000 was named by me as the cost price. I did not set the value of 3,000 on it. One of the valuations that I made was as high as £6000! – I was offered & am still £3000–; but the dispersion would result. People must draw their own conclusions; – but the public (of respectability & antiquarians) has never more boldly spoken against cliquism & Flunkeyism than in this case: – These are 300 to 1! The dreary Trustees were in no way driven by the newspapers! Whoever has suggested this absurd notion has been misled.

But within 10 days after I made the offer, ere these Trustees (see their names!) pronounced articles were written & published depreciating the Collection!! Of course we know (I do certainly), whence came these feelers & probers of the public pulse. The late valuation does not settle the matter by any means! It would have done so had it gone against me!

The coin you allude to was exhibited (in a cast) at the last Numismatic Society’s meeting.

There is ‘a job’ I see going on in the Isle of Wight in which Sir R. Murchison (one of the Faussett Saxon antiquities’ judges!!) is to play a part! Our country is the hot-bed of all sorts of inconsistencies.

Your’s very truly | C Roach Smith