Letter regarding specimens from Australia that were sent to the Reptile House

Correspondence between the Secretary of Agriculture in South Africa and George Soper Cansdale regarding Afrikaner Cattle for Whipsnade

Letters from John Thomas Barber Beaumont, County Fire Officer, discussing the effectiveness of heating in the Elephant House

Letters from J B Harvey providing a list of specimens of fish and shells that he collected. He appreciates his election as corresponding member of the Zoological Society of London and encloses varieties of concology from Devonshire. He encloses a few more specimens and expects to commence dredging shortly. He asks for information as to the best means for preservation

Letters from Alexander Miller of the Zoological Gardens regarding a Chinese Pheasant which escaped and had been running in Park Street, Camden Town, an escape from the Dove House, the removal of an oak fence on the southern boundary, the health of a Rhinoceros, the Society's Cashmere Goat, his visit to City Road Basin, the purchase of a Chimpanzee, a visit by the Queen to the Gardens, a stillborn Rhesus Monkey, dimensions of the back of a new den for the Elephant and Rhinoceros, the cost of laying the floor of the Elephant and Rhinoceros House, the death of a Chimpanzee and the return of John Woodbridge with Cranes and Leopards

Letters from Richard Owen regarding remarks on Bennett's edition of White's Natural History of Selborne, proofs of Bennett's paper with appreciation of his opinion on the value of Ousimile on Macr. Porryi, additions and alterations to notes on Hyrax, his omitted note of the salivary bags of the Armadillo from the written report of its dissection, MS of Clavagella, plans of the Monkey House and whether it is heated by hot air or steam, arrangements at the Garden to facilitate repetition and extension of experiments by Mr Hunter in 1725/6/7 to determine the relations subsisting between Wolf, Jackall and Dog, examination of 'your little feli-viverrine quadruped, bones of Touraco and drawings of Terebratala for the Zoological Society of London, East India Goats for sale by Mr Evans Riadone, an introduction to Mr Meade, a senior student at St Bartholomew's and a comparative anatomist and articulator of skeletons who wished to become a candidate for the College of Surgeons curatorship, and a request for Bennett to check a reference to 'Zoologie de la Caquille'

Not the first Gibbon
[JES?}

Bristol & Clifton Zoological Gardens
Oct 23 1839

Sir

You will most probably have heard that we have had in our collection for several months a very fine specimen of the Active Gibbon of Ungka-Puti, Hylobates Agilis of Fred. Cuvier and I am instructed by the Committee to inform you that it is their intention to dispose of it. In offering for sale an animal so unique it will necessarily be expected that I should state with the utmost candour the reasons which have induced the Committee to pass the above resolution - I shall not therefore conceal from you that the late unprecedented wet Summer has been the means of reducing the Society's finances [& that?] though this may be of a very temporary nature, they consider that the present position of the Society will justify them in their determination - a second reason is the want of a commodious apartment or building for the animal during the Winter, we have none of sufficient size for exercise, seems essential [?] habits and disposition - this I believe you would not find a difficulty in your ample buildings - with regard to her health, I sincerely believe that I am borne out in saying that she is in the highest state of health and condition and that her appearance will at once satisfy any competent person that such is the case - She is known to be at least five years old having acquired these years in a country contiguous to her own and often in snow and icy cold weather exposed in a Tree in confinement it is considered to be more in her favour than if she was [younger?]. As it is thought impossible that the attractive powers of this extraordinary rarity can be justly appreciated without a personal inspection I am to say that should the Society feel disposed to enter into negotiations with is for the purchase of it, our Committee would consider it a favour if some confidential person were to be sent to Bristol for the purpose. I am to say that until we have heard from you in reply the Committee do not intend to make public their intention to part with this Animal and it is offered to you first as the principal [?] Society and in the full confidence that if you should consider it advantageous to add it to your collection, we shall meet with that liberal treatment and conduct in the negotiation that has always guided the transactions of [your?] Society.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
William Martin
Hon Secy

Correspondence between Alan Francis Brooke and Officers of the Zoological Society of London regarding minutes of the Secretaryship Committee, Scientific Meetings, action taken by the Society on the occasion of the death of the Sovereign, the opening of the new boiler house, Council Meetings, the Garden Party at Whipsnade and Ordinary General Meetings

Correspondence between Alan Francis Brooke and Officers of the Zoological Society of London regarding his recent illness, kind enquiries from the Council of the Zoological Society of London, and Dr Richard Clarke of Bristol Zoo

Correspondence between Sir William MacGregor Henderson and Solly Zuckerman regarding the appointment of a new Director of Science, negotiations with the Department of Environment, a donation towards the cost of a new Discovery Centre at Whipsnade, a biographical memoir of John G Phillips and a successor to William Henderson