From Adam Sedgwick 23 February 1856

My dear Henslow

I suppose my Assistant has posted to you one of my Circulars; for I did I directed them to all the Professors of the U, & should hardly have forgotten you.

My Professorial days are nearly/many numbered; & I want to end them (like an Italian fiddler) with a grand Manner, & if the Senate does not help me, I shall end in a scrape.

I secured M ^r Gray’s collection with a every money possible: e[illeg.] to by coming down with 250£ meo periculo. I believe I could sell the collection in London to great profit; but that I should be ashamed to do; & that I cannot do without breaking word with M ^r J[illeg.]: for his prices are fixed on the condition that the collection should go to the Cam: Museum.

I have added a short notice to the \printed/ letter, which will appear in the Cam. Papers of this week; & if I can “think on” (as we say in Dent) I will send you a copy one of them. If the small but very beautiful collection of [illeg.] Shells (given by M. ^r Brocke) be put under glass, as it ought to be; in that case the complete arrangement of the Woodwardia series would cost about 500£[.] I did not think of the first item when I printed the circular: & if the U. have a c[illeg.] fit the [illeg.] shells may be put off to another day — Kind regards to M. ^rs Henslow & to all whom I know in your house; & a kiss to my dear Goddaughter— Pray tell me how you are going on. I broke down again [illeg.]. From the 4 ^th of Dec. to the 31 ^st I was a close/house Prisoner— being tormented by a vile cough & clogged by a discharge from the bronchial tubes. I went for 10 days in January to Norwich. I first went to try my legs; & they bore the two hours in the train better than I hoped for; but I caught a fresh cold which again put me in limbo. I was very anxious to got Dent to see a poor old dying Sister. About the middle of January I did start for Dent, halting in the way to avoid night air— I arrived alas! too late. Poor [illeg.] was gone before I reached the old Parsonage This has been to me a great sorrow. I returned to Cambridge just before the Poll closed so I gave my vote for D[illeg.], & found myself a small minority. This fact was quite [illeg.]. It was what often happened in my younger days, & it has put me in what I almost think a state of nature. I am still ailing so I do not go into Hall, my legs are so tender

P.S. Various sums (from 1£ to £10) have been subscribed & the total amounts to more than 100£. I have put my sum down for 20£, but [illeg.], of course, so [illeg.]; as I am interested now [illeg.] than one. Hawkins has presented us with a fine collection of Saurians from the Lias; asking only 100£ for the cost of mounting in frames. This sum our Master (i.e. of Trinity) has generously undertaken to pay. Whewell has also sent his sum to the [illeg.] subscription for 10£[.] This is generous — is it not? For he has thus committed himself for 110£ annually to the Geological Museum.

But how much have the other Heads sent? As yet, not one farthing. This does disappoint me: for they had the lithograph circular four or five weeks before any one else. It was sent to them by my Assistant while I was away in the N. of England—

P.S.S. Hawkins had been in correspondence with the Governments of Russia, Prussia & the United States on the subject of his collection for which he asked, I believe, nearly 2000£— a sum certainly far above their market value. Failing in all these quarters he finally offered it as a gift to us— The fiend Gout also bothers me again. Ever since 1830, the Spring has been to me a season of low spirits, & vile temper: & these distempers lord it over me quite into summer. I must stop.

Yours affectionately | A Sedgwick