46 



repayment of what he had paid. After a lengthened cor- 

 respondence the matter was referred to Professor Sedgwick, 

 who settled it by writing the following letter, which by its 

 tact and conciliatory language proved quite effectual : 



Norwich, June 25, 1849. 



My Dear Sir, 



I am extremely sorry that you have appealed to me about 

 the disposal of poor Mr. Gibson's insects, especially as I am at this 

 moment confined to mj bed by illness. It pains me to "write 

 while propped up in bed, as I feel so much lassitude that I cannot 

 long attend to anything. Surely no blame, in the first instance, 



attaches to the Rev. Mr. . You are bound to accept his 



statement without any reserve, viz., " That he was not desirous of 

 obtaining the insects, but having been applied to, and thinking that 

 purchasing them might be a little benefit to Gibson's family, he did 

 so, giving the amount that was required." I am truly sorry that 



you have not written to the Rev. Mr. with a little more caution, 



for he has, not unnaturally, taken offence at an expression in your 

 letter of June 4th. The case is a very plain one, he and you are 

 both anxious for the benefit of poor Gibson's family. He appears 

 not to have had any idea of the value of the collection, and if he 

 resolve to keep it he would not surely object to the valuation of 

 some good entomologist. Between the amount of such a valuation 

 and the sums he has already advanced he would not, I should 

 think hesitate to pay the difference to Mr. Gibson's family If 

 this plan be not adopted I think the value of the collection should 

 be ascertained in the way you propose, by public auction at Man- 

 chester, or by any method that promises to raise the largest 

 sum for the widow and children. I must, in conclusion, say that 

 I do not by any means approve of the plan of making up to the 

 family for the loss of the insects by occasional acts of pecuniary 

 help. They appear to have parted with the collection under the 

 pressure of dire necessity-, and this should not be turned against 

 them. I write with pain and labour, and fear I hardly make my- 

 self understood. 



Very truly yours, 



A. SEDGWICK. 



E. W. Binney, Manchester. 



