29th Oct., 1897 
Dr.R.W.Shufeldt, 
Smithsonian Institution, 
Washington, D.C. 
William Brewster, Esq.: 
New York City, 
My dear 3ir:- 
Your very hind letter of the 2Gth inst. is at 
hand. Doubtless before this reaches you, you will have received the 
registered communication I mailed you the other day. If it be not ash¬ 
ing too much, I beg you will open that letter as soon as you have this. 
There is a letter in it I desire you to see now . What I have sent is 
by no means a defense, but simply a stat e ment . It has been read and 
highly approved by Mr.Ridgway, who declares he will promptly resign from 
the Union, if this legal business of mine is brought before it. 
If I hear that the matter comes up, I am prepared to act here. 
This morning I informally advised Mr.Clarh Bell, the Secfetary of the 
Medico-Legal Society of New Yorh City, of which I am a member, of Coues' 
action, and he may possibly call upon you, and should he do so, you 
will find him a very courteous gentleman, and one of the best known 
lawyers in the city. It is ray special wish that you allow him to read 
in your presence the statement I have sent you, and then return it. Wh 
When Mr.Brewster coraes on, I beg you will let him see it, prior to the 
opening of the Congress, so he can be guided accordingly. There is no 
end of feeling here about the case, and this action of Coues' receives 
nothing save the strongest condemnation, Ridgway remarked yesterday 
that the Union alone can suffer from such unwarrantable interference in 
my private affairs. So I feel sure you will not deny my request, and 
.at. once inform yourself by reading what I have sent you in the registered 
letter. 
Faithfully your friend 
R.W.Shufeldt. 
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