WCP6417

[1]¹

British Museum (Natural History),

Cromwell Road,

London: S.W.

30^th. October, 1903

My dear Mr Bates,² -

I should be much obliged if you could tell me what it is proposed to do with my late friend’s³ collections of foreign Coleoptera. I have very strong opinions on the necessity of safeguarding & concentrating type specimens by their finding their way into pubic collections, but as Mr Bates unfortunately did not live to publish himself the descriptions of any of his new species I had no opportunity of discussing this matter with him. I am not aware [2] that the collections contain the types of any other species than those included in the M.S. paper which I have now in my hands for completion,⁴ but if the specimens are to be sold the Museum would willingly purchase all if allowed to do so. There are about 17 species described in the paper I speak of. Of course in any case the collections if sold would not be kept intact, as the purchaser would dispose of the specimens not required for his collection; nor would the fact that the types were in the British Museum in any way spoil the [3] chance of disposing of the collections as a whole, for I know of several private collectors who are anxious to secure them, although the are not at present known to contain types.

I do not like to approach you on a matter of this kind, but with me it is a matter of public interest that the specimens which have acquired permanent scientific importance should be deposited where as far as possible they are secure in perpetuity and are at the same time accessible to all scientific workers.

I hope Mrs Bates and also you and your family are well.

Yours sincerely | Gilbert J. Arrow⁵ [signature]