CORRESPONDENCE 255 



always interest me very much. I have at last got your and Krider's 

 boxes off and will let you know what arrangements I have made 

 respecting freight before closing tliis up. I forgot to say that I sent 

 a mounted bird of our Fish-hawk to compare with yours. Both 

 this and the Cormorant were amongst those that got slightly 

 touched by moth during my journey to Mexico, but I found it so 

 sliglit that I retained them and cured them with benzole and as I 

 did not see any further sign I think you may trust them. I am 

 vexed the King Eider skin was bad. I had just received it from 

 Greenland and thouglit it was all right. Some of those skins one 

 gets one cannot trust very much. 



The boxes have gone to the care of Wm. Thompson of St. 

 John in the " Choice," which vessel will sail to-morrow. Instead 

 of having them with the cargo the captain said he himself would 

 take charge of them and put them in his own cabin so that they 

 should not be knocked about and that when they were safely 

 delivered the receiver could pay him a trifle. I don't like doing 

 things in so loose a manner but perhaps they will be better taken 

 charge of thus. They ai'e both addressed to you so will you 

 kindly write to Mr. Thompson about them and get him to see to 

 them, and as the freight would ordinarily be 7s. 6d. sterling each, 

 if he gives the captain 15s. it would be fair. I don't want you to 

 pay the expenses, so if you will write and tell me Avhat the whole 

 sum is (and you arrange with Mr. Thompson) I will gladly refund 

 it to you. I addressed them to Mr. Thompson and gave the cap- 

 tain a letter to him to receive them as 1 see that the last things 

 sent were sent to Mr. T. for you. Krider's box is marked J. K. 

 and yours G. A. B. I have just received a nice long letter from 

 Krider, from which I see that he is collecting pretty largely. I 

 am rather anxious to see the latest American and particularly 

 Mexican news. Did you see the particulars of the execution of 

 General Vidauni? Poor fellow, I knew him well and have shared 

 blankets with him on a journey through Texas. He was a very 

 nice fellow although a regular Mexican and we got to be great 

 friends. 1 must write but a short letter this time as I have sev- 

 eral letters to write for to-day's mail. Joe joins in kind regards. 

 Believe me, Youi-s sincerely, 



H. E. Dresser. 



