HAMPDEN AND THE FLAT EARTH 393 



tolerably severe punishment for what I did not at the time 

 recognize as an ethical lapse. 



There is one other small money matter which I wish to 

 put on record here, because, though it involves only the small 

 sum of sixpence, it affords an example of official meanness, 

 and what really amounts to petty larceny, which can hardly be 

 surpassed. In 1865 the British Museum purchased from me 

 some specimen (I think a skeleton) for which they agreed to 

 pay £5. Two years later I received the following printed 

 form : — 



" Principal Librarian and Secretary's Office, 



" British Museum, W.C., June 24, 1867. 



" Sir, 



" If you will send your own stamped receipt to this 

 Office, you will be paid the amount due to you by the Trustees 

 of the British Museum, £5 os. od. 



" I am, sir, 



" Your very obedient Servant, 

 " Thomas Butler, 



" Assist. Secretary." 

 " Mr. A. R. Wallace." 



I, of course, complied with the request and sent the stamped 

 receipt, and by return of post had the following written 

 communication : — 



" Mr. Butler begs to transmit the enclosed P.O. order for 

 £4 igs. 6d. to Mr. Wallace, and the amount of it, with the 

 cost of the order (6d.), makes up the sum due by the Trustees 

 to Mr. Wallace. 



" British Museum, June 25, 1867." 



This amazing little dodge (for I can call it nothing else) 

 completely staggered me. I was at first inclined to return 

 the P.O. order, or to write asking for the 6d., and if necessary 

 summon Mr. Butler (or the Trustees) to a County Court for 



