Metcalf Hall
Cal. 7 April 1848

My dear Sir

The specimens of wild silk etc and the drawing of the [Eri?] and Tussah moths reached me safely some time ago; the larger specimen of raw silk alluded to in your note of the other day, has also come to hand. Mr Frith has been comparing with your drawing certain specimens in the Society's Museum and has drawn up a Memo on the subject; Mr Laidlay has the silk in hand and will report on the quality of it. I hope to submit these papers, with yours, at the next general meeting of the Agricultural Society after which I will do myself the pleasure of addressing you more fully on the subject.
Will you oblige me with a few leaves and flower of the Pooah plant for Dr. Falconer's examination? I presume you have seen Capt. Thompson's favourable report on the fibre.

Yours very truly

James Hume

B.H. Hodgson
Darjeeling

Stamped Calcutta
1846 Apr. 7

Metcalf Hall, Calcutta
12 June 1848

My dear Sir,

I have now the pleasure to enclose for your information copy of a Memo which Mr. Frith has been kind enough to draw up regarding the silk alluded to in your communication to my address. I regret the delay that has occurred in sending you this paper, the fact is I received it some time ago but was waiting a report on the raw specimens from Mr Laidlay which he promised me - but which, from present business, I have not yet received from him. Had I any idea of this delay on his part I should have sent Mr. Frith's paper to you long since

Yours very [truly]
James Hume
Hon. Secy

B.H. Hodgson Esq
Darjeeling

Metcalf Hall, Calcutta
4 August 1848

My dear Sir

I have the pleasure to enclose you a few further remarks from Mr. Frith with reference to your last interesting communication regarding the Wild silk worm of the Saul forests.

I have not forgotten your request for seeds which shall be complied with fully immed[iatel]y the Society's annual consignments arrive:- in the meantime I have sent you a small assortment of acclimated vegetable seeds, enclosed in a bag/box which I despatched by dak banghy to Dr. Campbell a few days since

Yrs very truly

James Hume

To B.H. Hodgson Esq.

Brianstone
Dorjiling
Feby [11] 1857

My dear Sir,

Your recent letter came to hand just in time to enable me to add a [few?] young [?] of the Rutwa Muntjac to Capt. James' despatch of birds I had however priorly at his his request afforded him all the advantages of my long experience in England of the pheasants and partridges of the Sikim Himalaya so that he was enabled to comply with the wishes of the Zool. Socy though not so [effectively] as he might have done had more time been afforded for procuring, taming and fitting for their journey our splendid game birds. I trust that some of his may nevertheless reach England in good health, though if you would make the [experiment?] of conveying these birds to Europe with all available chances of success, you should make your application, one season and, your transport of the birds, the next one, and so that the birds might be clear of the Bay of Bengal by the end of February. As it was it was too late to collect and quiet down the birds before they were sent off; and I apprehend that their embarcation will also be too late even if a sufficient quantity be forthcoming at Cala [Calcutta] when your Agent is ready to receive them and to convey them to England. Every thing depends on having birds duly prepared for the journey down the country, upon shipment at the [people?] season or height of the cold weather and upon ample room and careful supervision of the voyage. With all these advantages the birds may be assuredly conveyed home in high health, as I witnessed during my last voyage to England; without them here is but a doubtful chance of success. I request you will convey to the Committee my acknowledgements of their flattering attention to Dr. Horsfield and your suggestion for the illustrated publication of my Mammal novelties. Had I got this intimation a little sooner I could have forwarded with the Birds not only a fine live Ratwa or Kaker/Kacker which I did and beg to present the same to the society, but also, the [spoils?] of the wild Yak and of the Tibetan badger with one or two more rarities particularly a splendid skin of the Melanic variety of the leopard. But the intimation of your purpose came too late for that opportunity and the season is now so far advanced that the transmission of these skins, with any others I may get in the [interior?] had better be postponed till next season I have also now in the house a healthy and joyous individual of the Paradoxures tricus or the 5 striped species. But that is too great a pet to be parted with, though I may at all events be enabled to send you by and by an account of it's manners and habits as observed under circumstances of unusual advantage, I sent you long ago a drawing of a fine old male of Cervus Affinis I cannot hope to get a live sample but may procure more skins. Should I do so I will remember your wishes
Very [truly] yrs

B.H. Hodgson

Natural History Museum
March 13th 1860

Dear Sir,

In answer to your letter of the 7th inst. I have much pleasure in forwarding, in accordance with your wishes, the enclosed List of Birds which you discovered in Nepal since 1844 together with the corrected names of some of those previously sent. The species pertaining to the Rasorial, Grallatorial and Natatorial groups I have not as yet worked out (but which I hope to do at some future time) the names of these in the list are upon the authority of Mr. G. R. Gray. I hope it will answer your purpose. I believe I mentioned when you were last here, that a change would probably take place in regard to our Natural History Museum - and that I was anxious to obtain testimonials regarding my fitness for taking charge, as Curator, of this Collection. I therefore take this opportunity of soliciting the favour of one from yourself, which, with your kind permission I should be grateful to possess as soon as conveniently possible. Trusting that you will pardon the liberty and believe me

Your most obediently
Frederic Moore

P.S. For your information I may be allowed the liberty of stating that I acted as assistant to the late Doctor H. for 12 years, conducting the necessary duties of the Dept.

In case of my Death to be made over to the Zool. Society with the 6 portfolios of drawings - 2 of Mammals, 4 of Birds

B.H.H

Aug/69

The Grange
Alderley
Wotton-under-Edge

March 29 1870

List of Ethnographical drawings numbered by sheets

1. Nepal Series
   26 originals and 12 duplicates
   Also, in small 6 originals and 4 duplicates
   Also 16 photographs including one Toda woman and one Chinese man

2. Sikim Series
   23 originals and 7 duplicates

3. Rough drafts, 17 originals - No duplicates

1V. Three photographs of a native of the Andamans
And a set of Chines heads for comparison taken from Illus. London News and 12 sets of measurements of Himalayans

N.B Given to Anthropological Society through Hooker and Sir J. Lubbock Jany 1873

N.B May 1873
Destination altered and drawings presented to the Christie Collection as per list of the Superintendant Mr. Franks. The residue being duplicates and what not, kept and herein contained

B.H.H

1845

To the Trustees of the
Royal College of Surgeons
London

Gents
During my residence in India I made extensive collections with a view to illustrate the Zoology of Nepal, and, being not insensible of the high importance of whatever tends to fix the Science of Zoology on the firm basis of structural peculiarities, I preserved a great many skeletons (more or less perfect) of such quadrupeds and birds as were procured by me as specimens and likewise procured anatomical notes to be occasionally made relative the soft as well as hard parts of the animals. It is my wish to present these materials if found worthy to the College of Surgeons. I regret that circumstances which it [?] need not here be referred to have rendered them far less complete than ones hope to have made them. These osteological remains are for the most part duly numbered with reference to the series of skins and drawings presented by me to the Brit. Museum. The species may be thus, for the most part at once identified, and I have only to add the expression of my hope that in return for the donation hereby proposed the College of Surgeons will be pleased to place me in communication with the person who may be directed to receive and examine these [?] and that that person may be authorised and required to put me in possession of the results of his examination of them, particularly such as are calculated to [?] on the Natural affinity or the habits and manners of the specimens.
(signed) B.H. Hodgson

[Note of reverse]
M.S. Collection declined in the reply
and therefore made over to Brit. Mus.
Jany 1845

[1845]

My Dear Sir

I am sorry that I am obliged to go out this morning but in case you should some I leave the following

dons 1. India House - Dr. Horsfield Thomas Horsfield 1773-1859
655 American

       2. Mus. Leyden - Director
           536                  Mr Temminck   Coenraad Jacob Temminck
                                                               Dutch    1778-1858
      3.  Mus. Paris        The Administrator
           462
      4. Mus. Berlin       Director
          411                     M. Lichtenstein  Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein
                                                                German                    1780-1857
      5. Mus. Senkenberg.  Director
          Frankfurt      Dr. Rupell            Eduard Ruppell
          352                                            German                       1794-1884
     6.  Edin.....College Museum
          321      Professor Jameson       Robert Jameson
                                                              Scottish                     1774-1854
     7.  Dublin University Museum
          290     Secretary R. Ball Esq    Robert Ball
                                                             Irish                              1802-1858
                                                             Became Director in 1844
      8. Newcastle
          259
     9. Canterbury
         237
     10. Manchester      The Secretary
          213
     11. Earl of Derby
         205
     12. Hugh Strickland Esq                         Hugh Edwin Strickland
          Oxford                                                English                  1811-1853

Yours Very Truly
J.E. Gray

To the Trustees of the British Museum London

My Lords and Gentlemen
Before my return from India I presented to the British Museum a large series of zoological specimens collected in Nepal in the last [20] years and I at the same time submitted a series of Drawings made under my directions in Nepal. I have brought home with me from India further ample supplies of both specimens and drawings as well as some Memoranda and Notes (diminished unhappily by accidents on the way) relative to the animals collected and delineated. The whole constitutes a large mass of materials procured at great expense for the illustration of the Zoology of Nepal and of Tibet, and it is my wish, while making the British Museum the primary Depositary of these materials to procure its aid in such a disposal and use of them as may most effectively to further the interests of Science both by distribution and by publication. I am however aware of the rules of the British Museum and therefore solicit its counsel and advice upon the following propositions and suggestions which occur to myself.

1. One complete series of specimens (skins) and of drawings to be presented by me to the British Museum which institution shall return to me all duplicates already in its possession and shall appoint an officer to select from my fresh stores at Canterbury such further specimens and drawings as are required for completing its series.
2. The officer above named to give me his aid in selecting from my specimens already in the Museum and at Canterbury further series to be presented, as far as the specimens go. 1st to India House 2nd to Paris Museum 3rd to the Leyden Museum 4th to that of Canterbury 5th to other institutions of Great Britain till the specimens are exhausted
3. The same or other fit officer of the Museum to be appointed to examine with me my Notes and Memoranda as well as drawings with a view to publication if found advisable in such form and with such aid as to the Trustees may seem proper. Meanwhile, no public use to be made of either specimens or drawings without my consent.
4. The series of finished drawings being not quite complete, the museum to appoint some Artist to complete it from the original rough drawings in my possession and from which that series was copied

very little additional work is needed for the end in view

Gents
your ob[edien]t Servant
B.H. Hodgson

In consideration of the donation of these drawings and skins to the British Museum; the collection and preparation of which have been to me a source of very great expense I would respectfully ask the Trustees to give me aid from the public resources at their disposal such aid in the publication of a Fauna of Nepal and Thibet, as they may deem suitable or to recommend to the British Government to give my projected work that support which has recently been so liberally bestowed upon similar labours. Meanwhile no public use to be made of either drawings or specimens
I have the honor to be
My Lords and Gentlemen
Your ob[edien]t Serv.
Signed B.H. Hodgson

P.S. My Zoological collections embrace an extensive osteological series which as not being suitable to the British Museum it is my intention to present to the Royal College of Surgeons with a request of such aid and cooperation as may seem fitting in reference to the objects of the above letter

[Marginalia]

150 species of Mammals
650 of Birds besides fishes, snakes etc

other institutions subsequently specified as Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinbro, Dublin, Plymouth