WCP1682

[1]

24 Bloomsbury Street London.

March 23. 1863

My dear Sir

It is now a long time since I wrote to you[.] I have been waiting to receive the money from M^r: McNaughton,¹ at Edinburgh ^£32 but he has not yet paid me when I wrote to him the first time about 2 years ago he promised as soon as he got the money he would send it[.] I have written to him twice since and I have got no reply, will you please write to him yourself at once & request him to pay me the money without further delay the amt. you owe me is £37:19:7. [2] as you are now corresponding direct with M^r Bates² & M^r Wallace³ it will be no use my sending you any of their Butterflies & I have very little else worth sending at present to you — I received Baron Brunner's⁴ Letters some time ago when I can find time I propose to send him some Orthoptera for selection but being now so busy it takes a long time to look them out & fix a price[.]

I have at present several very large Collections of Bird Skins &c on Sale from New Guinea & other E India Islands also from China & Formosa & Mons^r Du Chaillu's⁵ celebrated collection of African skins. I have had printed [3] Lists with prices of all these & have this day sent them to you ^{through Mr Wallace} & shall be much obliged if you would give them to the Director at your Museum at Vienna most of the skins are in fine condition & contain many new rare & valuable species & many you are not likely to have in your Museum[.] Some of the skins I have only 2 or 3 specimens so I shall be glad to prevent disappointed to hear from your Director as soon as possible as I expect a party here in the middle of April who will purchase very largely & probably carry off all the best.

Waiting your reply | remain y^rs faithfully | Samuel Stevens⁶ [signature]

D^r. Felder⁷

[4] I regret to say I have no Butterflies or Moths from Africa except a few from the Cape & Natal. I hope to get some before long from Madagascar where I have a correspondent but have had nothing from him yet.