1856. LETTERS ON MUSEUM BUSINESS. 305 



say, dear Janet), I write at the request of the Director, who 

 though an extraordinary genius, and in truth, the only 

 person in the world who knows aught about a wonderful 

 science called Tech-Knowledgy, is as ignorant of the price 

 of Curling Stones as that of Curling irons or Curl-papers, 

 and understanding from me, that you are very learned about 

 them (not the curl-paper or the curling irons, dear madam, 

 but the curling stones), and that you have a nephew called, 

 if I caught the name aright, Professor Neavn, also very 

 learned concerning the said stones has requested me to 

 ask your ladyship's, and your ladyship's nephew's advice 

 about purchasing the stones. 



" In a word, is it a large, a small, or a medium price to 

 pay ? Please to signify by your own esteemed (I would like 

 to say beloved) hand, or that of your respected nephew, 

 what the price of curling stones is, that I may decide, before 

 leaving, about the black granite ones. 



" Mother, Jessie, two little parrots sent us from Australia, 

 the Director, the Professor, the gig, the horse, the driver, 

 and / are here, and those of Us that are well, are well, and 

 those of us that are not, are not. . . . Your (I was going to 

 say dearly loving) obedient, humble servant, 



GEORGE WILSON." 



In a Museum letter of the same semidemisemi-official 

 kind, the following passage occurs : " I have just discovered 

 that I have taken two sheets instead of one. Don't make 

 this known to Government, or they'll hang me in a noose 

 of red tape, as a warning to all wasters of public property. 

 I try your ingenuity in endeavouring to show my desire for 

 economy. Read the pages according to the Rule of Three. 

 If that does not succeed, try them upside down ; if no sense 

 comes of that, give up the perusal." 



G W X 



