REPORT 



ON 



PURCHASES MADE IN EUROPE 



FOR THE 



New York, Jan. 24, 1870. 



2b *$e Executive Committee of the American Museum of Natural 

 History : 



Gentlemen, — A few days after my arrival at Hanover, Ger- 

 many, on the first of September last, I received from your chair- 

 man a letter requesting me to act, with the assistance of Mr. D. 

 G-. Elliot, for the Museum, in negotiating for the purchase of cer- 

 tain collections of specimens in Natural History, which were 

 offered for sale on remarkably favorable terms. 



On the 25th of the same month, I arrived in Paris and had a 

 consultation with Mr. Elliot, and ascertained that negotiations 

 were nearly completed for the purchase of the collection of the 

 late Prince Maximilian of Wied. Baron Bibra, the representative 

 of the present Prince of "Wied, was informed by Mr. Elliot that I 

 had arrived in Paris, and, as a Trustee and member of the Exec- 

 utive Committee, was prepared to conclude the terms of pur- 

 chasing the collection, and he at once made an appointment to 

 meet us there. 



The Committee having placed the proper credit at my disposal, 

 everything was satisfactorily adjusted and the contract forwarded 

 to your chairman. The price paid for the entire collection was 

 £1,500 Sterling, and instructions were given to ship the collection 



