Peb. 14th 1918 Jerenie, Ha-'''!!. 
Dear Richiiond: 
I wrote you yesterda2'’ saying I hoj)ed to get off the 3 
cases of specimens by the ”Prins der Nederlands", but the Caijtain 
positively refused to take any thing whatever from Hayti. So I am 
leaving the cases behind at the Custom house here to send at earliest 
opportunity'', that majf be 2 weeks or 3 months. The Collector, Mr. 
Robin, say'S he will get them off when he can. He is American. I 
cant take the cases with );te to Port au Prince. I have only a small 
open sail boat, already full of my luggage & gear. It rains frequently 
& every'thing will get soaking wet, & the voy/age of 120 miles to wind- 
v/ard, will take 8 or 3 weeks, including stop in Gonave Island. Prob- 
ably a most wretched & miserable trijj. I wish it was over. So it 
seems best to take chances (very'^ uncertain) of the cases going from 
here. There are no steamers calling here on north bound voy^age. But 
some shipments for IT. Y. are made on southward (outward) voy'-age. Anyr- 
how cant do any/" better. The trouble is the Collector the other 
chaps will probably forget ail about it. The agent here v/ill not take 
delivery for shipment, as I have alway/'S done elsewhere. So the Col- 
lector in H. y. had better be notified to be ready.'- to receive the 
cases whatever vessel they may come by'’. 
The 3 cases are marked as usual 
T T , S . IT at i o n al Mu s e uux 
Care Collector Port of Hew York 
Like every^'where else every/-thing is completely,'- upset & disorgan- 
ized owing to the war. 
Hope everything will eventually'- turn up. 
Yoixrs truly." 
(Signed) '"L L. Abbott. 
^ C • ^ ft 
