FAILING HEALTH, BUT UNFLAGGING ZEAL 285 



Other gentlemen saw it. Banks gave a rash and ready 

 opinion on the matter and stuck to it angrily and obsti- 

 nately. Meanwhile, the unfortunate list passed from hand 

 to hand ; and the general opinion on Salt's conduct be- 

 came unduly weighted by that of Sir Joseph, as though 

 it were an attempt at extortion. 



When the news of all this came to Salt's knowledge, he 

 wrote from Cairo (May, 1819) with surprise and alarm. 

 He protested to Mr. Hamilton that he had been com- 

 pletely misunderstood. He had offered the collection 

 to the Government, at their own valuation ; but he had 

 enclosed a list with his private estimate of the value of 

 the different articles, without, however, setting up a 

 standard for the Government to act upon. " To prevent 

 any future misunderstanding I now take the liberty of 

 offering, through you, my whole collection to the British 

 Museum (except a few articles intended for Earl Mount- 

 norris) without any condition whatever, and shall feel a 

 great pride in hereafter rendering it complete. The ex- 

 penses incurred in forming this collection have been con- 

 siderable, and have somewhat seriously trenched on my 

 small private property. Should the Trustees be pleased 

 to reimburse me, in whole or in part, I shall receive it 

 as an obligation ; otherwise, shall rest perfectly satisfied 

 in the idea that my services in this respect will not be 

 ultimately overlooked by the Government. . . ." 



He stated also that Belzoni had a substantial claim to 

 a share in any pecuniary results ; and that expert had 

 put a price on the sarcophagus considerably over 2000. 

 The Secretary at War, Charles Yorke, was also appealed 

 to, as one officially interested. 



Salt's explanatory letters seem to have given satis- 

 faction to everybody but Sir Joseph ; who still adhered 

 to his first thought, that there had been an attempt at 

 imposition. He was not disposed to accept Mr. Salt's 

 reasons for his having sent such a list, and long months 



