106 
MEMOIR OF THE LATE JOHN SCALES. 
My dear Sir, 
Many, many apologies for my unintentional rude- 
ness in opening the inclosed note from Leach to you. The fact was I had 
rather eagerly waited for the packet which inclosed it, and seeing no other 
letter, supposed it was for me & instantly opened it. Likewise many 
apologies for so long detaining it & your insects. Leach has repeatedly 
teized me about Carahus clatkratus fern: promised him by you, and which 
he supposed was committed to me ; I have therefore sent him my ? , trust- 
ing to you for another, which I doubt not you will let me have as soon as 
convenient. 
When will you come and see me ? I shall be at home all next week 
except Monday 27 inst. and shall be very glad to see you 
Respects to Family 
Yours truly 
S. Wilkin 
Cossey Jan 20. 1812 
El. Scales Esqr Halvergate 
My dear Sir, 
What an age it is since I have had the pleasure of 
hearing from you ! & -I have had such short notice of the opportunity by 
which I send this & am besides just now so overhead & ears in the East 
India Business as you will see by the inclosed Report that I have not time 
to say half I am desirous of saying. 
For the last six months I have been so incessantly engaged with one thing 
or another that I have not had a moment for Entomology. First came the 
Botanic Garden of which you will find the history in the inclosed pamphlet 
I need say no more than that it goes on most prosperously. Next came my 
inquiries into Fingers and Toes which I pledged mj'self to make for the 
Holderness Agricultural Society of which I am a member & which 
what with personal applications & correspondence took up no little time. A 
dish of these I inclose & I shall be obliged b}^ the useful comments & informa- 
tion which I know you can give. Lastly came a negociation with Mr. Watt 
for the sale of my 93 acres of land at Bp Burton to which his squireship 
had taken a huge fancy & for which he offered me £9000, but tho’ the 
course seemed very clear when £2000 was offered more than any one else 
would have given, I had necessarily a good deal of inquiry to make into tho 
value of land & before I at length closed with him. 
Just when all these matters were off my shoulders came (his East India 
Business so that I have literally collected but very few Insects this last 
summer a Curculio on watercress (C. nasturii of me) of which I have sent 
you a specimen to Mr. Wilkin. 
