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Letter from the Zoological Society of London to Peter Chalmers Mitchell regarding the functions of a new committee

Letter to Peter Scott regarding the possibility of the Society commissioning a portrait of H.M. The Queen

Monsieur Telfair

Celle ci est pour repondre a la lettre que vous m'avez fair l'honneur de m'ecrire. Je suis flatté de la preference que vous m'accorder. Vous pouvez etre persuade qu'a la premiere occasion. Je ferai tous mes efforts pour vous envoyer Vivans un ou plusieurs de ces oiseaux que vous desirez. Je ferai aussi toutes les recherches & [fouills?] dans les environs pour les [?] que l'on pouvais y trouver. S'il y a quelques autres [?] a [?] que vous desirez ne [?] pas de me commander ou sera toujours un vrai [?] pour moi de vous etre utile. Cet oiseau est nomme dans le pays Oiseau Boeuf nom qui l'on a tire de son cri qui est absolument celui du veau. Je me souviens qu'un jour l'avons entendre crier moi & des [?] nous avons ete a la recherche d'un veau & nous avons trouve cet oiseau dans un arbre. Je suis [?] [?] de m'avais [?] [?] pendant le sejour de la fregate [?] i'le constamment avec [?] Messieurs les accompayons dance leur recherche & avec la plus grand partir de mes [?] M. G[?]y n'avons pas ete dans la meme [?] [?] plus heureaux ces [?] [?] pres deux de ces oiseau Je le repete Monsieur Je ferai tous a qui repondre de mois pour vous etre utile & agreable - vous pouvez compter sur moi.

J'ai le honneur d'etre avec un profond respect Monsieur votre tres humble & tres obeissant serviteur

Rodriguez 20 Aout 1832

Port Louis, Mauritius
Feby 25/26 1833

My dear Sir,

I send you under charge of Dr. Wallace of the Royal George - two tortoises from the islands of the Amirantes to the Eastwards of Seychelles - and one of a different description from the Harbour of Mombaza on the East coast of Africa. He will also present you in the name of the Honourable Lady Colville - a Chameleon from the North of Madagascar. I beg you to recommend Dr [Wallace?] to any kind attention you can show him regarding your garden Menagerie in return for the care & trouble he takes in conducting these animals to you. I have requested that in case of death they may be put in spirits & presented for your dissection. I send you in a flacon, preserved in spirits - an animal which you will find undescribed. I hope I have already written to you about it. - it comes from the [interior?] of Madagascar where it is called the "Sokinoh" A pair of the animals was sent to me from the Queen in charge of one of the members of her deputation which lately visited the Mauritians - this couple escaped our of their cage - they appear of the genus of Tandrek but differ in many [?] points - they left the little one I now send you - it was dropt by the mother the night she escaped & I fed it on milk for seventeen days when it died - I put it in the flacon with spirits & afterwards put in the same flacon a chameleon which died in my Court being hurt by a bittern of Madagascar who wished to swallow it. I have written to you by Sir Charles Colville today

believe me very sincerely
your obliged friend and servant

C. Telfair

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

Engine Manufactory
New Road

March 20th [1838]

Sir
We have inspected the Steam Engine & Machinery at the Zoological Gardens and we beg to submit for consideration of the Council the following remarks
Our information is
"That the last years expences including some repairs was £241.67"
"That the quantity of water raised was 180 Tons weight per Diem"
"That the average quantity of Coal consumed per hour was 112lbs and an additional 140 lbs used daily in getting up the Steam"
"That the cost of Welsh Coal was £1. 11. 8 1/2 per Ton"
"That the time of working the Engine is Four hours per day in Winter and eight hours per day in Summer say an average of 6 hours
"That the cylinders of the Pumps are 5 inches in diameter, 13 inches length of stroke and taking 18 strokes per minute"
Now upon a calculation we have made from the data given us we can make neither the quantity of water raised, not the annual amount of expence agreed. In the first place three 5 inch cylinders 13 inch strokes taking 18 strokes per minute in a proper states of repair would only deliver from 2600 to 2700 gallons of water per hour, and this quantity say for 6 hours would be equal to 16200 Gallons being only Seventy-two Tons - six cwt (Tons 72 6cwt) per day instead of 180 Tons of water as stated showing a discrepancy of nearly 108 tons of water per day.
Secondly as to expence we proceed thus -
Coal consumed per week of 6 days averaging
6 hours each day 43 1/2 cwt £3. 8. 9
Labor 1.10.-
Tow, Hemp, Tallow & Sundries - 15. -
Total for week £5.13.9
Making an Annual outlay of £294.4.8
Without any essential repairs - wear & tear, interest of Capitol etc. We are of opinion that an outlay of from £50 to 70 would complete the repairs at present necessary to the Engine and Pumps & the resetting of the Boiler. We should be happy to do the repairs of the present Machinery when occasion requires but we would rather decline entering into any specific contract - Although we decline entering into any contract retaining the present Machinery we have no objection to enter into an engagement for the supply of water to the gardens upon the following terms - To take away the present Engine, and Boiler and such other parts of the Machinery as we dee, necessary, to replace the same with an Engine and Boiler of sufficient power to supply the present quantity of water, and to take upon ourselves the expence of all repairs, Engine fuel etc etc for a term of Three Years for a sum of Three Hundred pounds per Annum payable quarterly in advance On the expiration of the Three years, if the contract be not renewed, the Engine and Boiler placed by us to be taken by the Council at a fair valuation. It must be clearly understood that we cannot guarantee the supply of Water in the Well

Waiting your further commands
We remain Sir
Your obedient Servants
Braithwaite, Milner & Co

To the Revd Barlow

Sir John Walsh presents his compliments to Mr Vigors & begs to represent to him the impertinence which he experienced from a Gate Keeper of the name of Parker at the Zoological Gardens this afternoon. This person in demanding Sir John's umbrella & in reply to an observation that as shown was threatening, he was unwilling to relinquish it and with great insolence that it was no use taking, he must have it, & his behaviour was the more improper as Sir John was accompanied by Lady Jane & his children. If the Society find it necessary to adopt a regulation, which in a large garden, & in a showery season must be admitted to be an inconvenient & annoying one to the visitors, it must be their wish that it should be enforced with the greatest civility and they cannot desire to licence their Servants to accost persons of respectability with the manners and tone of a police officer to a pickpocket

28 Berkeley Square
Wednesday

Complaint against Gate Keeper
24 June [1830]

7th Feby 1844

I hereby declare that Messrs Piper have not received any authorisation from me in writing or otherwise to underlet any part of the works in or about the terrace and dens - or in the Museum located in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London and farther that the words in the specification "letting" as [tack work?] mean underletting

E.W. Elmslie