From James Bruce to Frederick McCoy   9 Feb 1862

Cranbourne

Feby 9th 1862

Dear Sir

I received your note of 4th inst¹ on Friday last — too late to forward an answer — I now send this by first post — I am sorry to inform you that it is now beyond my power to comply with your requests respecting the meteorite — My answer to your previous letter² in which I offered half the meteorite to the National Museum on certain conditions was posted on 13th ult³ & as no answer was received up to the 31st accepting these conditions I naturaly concluded they were not acceptable On last mentioned day Mr E Heyne an assistant to Dr Mueller arrived with a letter from that gentleman⁴ requesting permission to remove it to the British Museum His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly having kindly promised to pay the necessary cost — As I intended to place it there I could have no objection to this arrangement & gave permission accordingly — At the time I gave this permission I had in mind that both Dr Mueller & yourself were members of the Royal Society & had mutually agreed as to the steps each was taking in the matter — I regret much that one half of it cannot be retained for the National Museum as I think the merely dividing it in two would not make it less interesting besides showing its structure without further trouble

I would sugest that you appeal to Dr Mueller & if he will allow it to be divided I shall offer no objection.

I remain

yours faithfully

Jas Bruce

Professor McCoy

National Museum

Melbourne