MEMOIR OF DR. LATHAM. 
27 
zoological subjects, although a stranger to Mr. Pennant, was induced to com¬ 
municate to him some matter, the result of his own observations, which he 
thought might be interesting to that gentleman. On this occasion Mr. Pennant 
replies:—“ It gives me inexpressible pleasure to have my poor endeavours to 
promote science approved by a gentleman so well versed in my particular study 
as you appear to be. Receive my best thanks, and grant me the favour of your 
future correspondence. 5 ' This correspondence was continued without interrup¬ 
tion, until the death of Mr. Pennant in 1799. 
In 1772 Sir Ashton Lever introduced himself by letter to Mr. Latham, as a 
brother collector of w T hom he had heard much, and proposed a correspondence for 
their mutual benefit. Sir A. Lever was not a man of our day, but his name is 
still familiar to every naturalist ; and the following letter, dated two months 
only after the first, and before these gentlemen had seen each other, will, we 
think, be interesting to our readers; making them acquainted with one trait, 
at least, of Mr. L.’s character, while it is a distinguished testimony to the 
frank and liberal disposition for which the subject of our memoir was strikingly 
remarkable:— 
Sir Ashton Lever to Mr. Latham. 
Alkrington^ Jan. 24, 1773. 
Dear Latham,— Give me leave to call you by that familiar name, as I flatter 
myself we shall be correspondents as long as we both live. Your very generous 
disposition suits me, and I shall be much mortified if I cannot make you proper 
returns for whatever you send me. You will allow me a little time, and I will 
do my best endeavour to pick some things out of this collection that will please 
you. The Manakins are the most elegant birds I ever saw, and your taste in the 
disposition of them is most exquisitely beautiful. You have set us on our mettle, 
as I tell you honestly, I have not among all my cases any so attractive to my 
visitors as this. To make my remarks on all the articles you have sent 
me would exceed the bounds of a letter; but of this I assure you, I never received 
so generous a present from any one, since I began to collect, though I have fre¬ 
quently had a right to expect great matters. 
Let me know any particular subjects you may want that may fall in my way 
to supply you with, as my inclination, as well as my gratitude, will always 
induce me to shew you how much I am 
Affectionately yours, 
Ashton Lever. 
The opportunities of adding to his ornithological collection, and of inspecting 
and taking drawings of rare specimens, which this connexion afforded, were of 
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