1866] Request for a Character. 189 



MY DEAR NEWTON, I am rejoiced to hear the result of the elec- 

 tion to the Z. Chair, and I trust that you may long be spared to enjoy 

 your success, and the very enviable position, in which I am sure vou 

 will do much good to N. Science, and I hope especially to our favourite 

 branch. 



Pray think now of that Manual of European Ornithology which we 

 are all waiting for, and for which I venture once more to petition. 



I am very hard worked just now in printing our Irish flora, and after 

 that is done (but I think you will hardly credit it) I am thinking of 

 taking your oft-repeated advice of an alternation (sandwich fashion) of 

 zoology. 



There will soon be open in Dublin an appointment as Assistant 

 Curator of the Dublin Society's Museum, which lam advised to try for. 

 Ornithology and Irish fauna to be my department but I am up to 

 Insects too. The Director, Dr. Carte (whom I think you know) is a 

 nice, quiet, amiable man, and will make my position pleasant, and 

 perhaps allow of an excursion with the bird-stuffer occasionally. So I 

 am very much tempted to take it. 



Will you, then, my dear Professor, send to your faithful " B. O. U." 

 a character, to some such effect as, that I know birds and insects, that 

 Ornithology has always been a favourite pursuit, always have been 

 working at Nat. Hist., wrote Nat. Hist, of the Isle of Wight, and am a 

 fair " Naturalist" generally, and pretty good at species. 



Any "puff" would be what I should not ask, nor you give ; but if 

 you can make out a strong claim for me, I shall be the better in the 

 way of serving " Ibis." Yours, my dear Professor, most sincerely, 



ALEX. G. MORE. 



The " character " was not long in coming, and, with 

 those sent him by Professor Babington and Mr. Bell, com- 

 pleted his set of testimonials. From friends in Dublin he 

 had already learned that his election was probable. 



GLASNEVIN, 



March i2th, 1866. 



MY DEAR NEWTON, Many thanks for your kind warrant : still 

 more for the friendly note which accompanied it. I do not think 

 that I need ask you to do any more for me ; because I know that if you 

 meet our friend Dr. Wright in London, you will, I am sure, give me a 

 good character, and I trust that Wright and I may live to work heartily 

 together at the Irish Fauna. Wright is the rising man of science in 

 Dublin, and one of my best friends. He helped us greatly in getting 

 funds for our " Cybele Hibernica." I wish to have him as my firmest 

 ally here. 



I have reason to hope that Dr. Carte is willing to have me as his sub. 



