CHAP. xvir. REQUEST FOR FOSSILS. 



271 



Sir Roderick, however, did not forget the Thurso 

 baker-geologist and botanist. In May 1857 he wrote 

 to him from the Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn 

 Street as follows : " Dear Sir Aware of the talent you 

 have evinced in collecting rare and good specimens of 

 the fossil fishes of the Caithness flags, and finding that 

 this establishment is very poor in such remains, I venture 



DICK'S HOUSE, WILSON'S LANE. 



to ask you to taKe some steps to supply us with a few 

 really good things in the ichthyic line. All cost of 

 extraction, as well as the full value of the fossils, would 

 be paid thankfully to the finders. Pray excuse the 

 freedom I use. I have no other means of endeavouring 

 to secure this desirable object." 



Robert Dick acceded to the baronet's request. He 

 did not sell any of his fossils, but he sent the donation 



