107 
Mr, Pitchford to Mr. James Edward Smith. 
Dear Sir, Norwich, May 2, 1784. 
I am favoured with your letter, for which I think 
myself much obliged to you, as I began to fear I 
was struck out of the list of your correspondents ; 
but this letter is a letter indeed! and makes ample 
amends for past deficiencies. I sincerely give you 
joy of your purchase as a matter which will afford 
you a fund of instruction and amusement in natural 
history, and I should imagine will be a means of 
making you much known. Mr. Woodward was 
here this week, and acquainted me with some es- 
sential particulars not mentioned in your letter. 
You may imagine the surprise we were all in. We 
dined at Mr. Crowe’s, who I imagine will talk with 
you a great deal about it. He was for desiring me 
to write to you immediately, to beg you would by 
no means make any agreements as to the disposal 
of your purchase; but as he sets off for London on 
Monday, May the 3rd, he can better make you ac- 
quainted with his intentions himself. Poor Mr. Rose 
(who has lost Mrs. Rose) commissioned me in par- 
ticular to return you his thanks for your remem- 
brance of him. 
You certainly make a very proper remark in 
saying that this purchase is not to interfere with 
your medical pursuits, as the cultivation of natural 
history cannot be pursued with vigour but by per- 
sons of independent fortunes; for others it must 
only be as an amusement, or relaxation from other 
studies. 
