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Letters from William Ogilby to E J Bennett regarding his examination of skins and other matters at the Zoological Society of London

1840

My dear Ogilby

Your letter came to me while I was at Cambridge - I am sorry I cannot be at the Committee tonight: tho points I have to offer to your and the Committee's notice respecting the big birds bone are simply my conviction that it is an extinct Struthious Bird about the age of the Dodo. It is [associated] in interest with the Apteryx from the same locality - a short paper and one plate.

Believe me
ever your truly
Rd. Owen

Tuesday Morng.

Notes written by William Ogilby on the back of letters

Memorandum of agreement entered into on the 22nd day of February 1847 between the Zoological Society of London and Charles Wolf of 28 Crosby Row, Walworth, in the Parish of Newington, Country of Surrey, Confectioner. The said Zoological Society agrees to let to the said Charles Wolf and the said Charles Wolf agrees to take from the said Zoological Society the privilege of selling Confectionary and other refreshments at the Gardens of the said Society in the Regents Park, together with the Confectionary Rooms and other accommodation heretofore occupied by Mr Thomas Masters at the said Gardens, for the space of one year from the first day of April next ensuing, at and for the rent or sum of Three Hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling to be paid in advance, that is to say on or before the the thirty first day of March next ensuing. And it is hereby further agreed by and between the said parties that the said Charles Wolf, will not make of cause to be made any alteration in or upon the said premises or any part thereof without the authority in writing of the Secretary of the said Society authorised thereto by an order or Minute of the Council of the said Society, and that he the said Charles Wolf will render up possession of the said premises at the expiration of the aforesaid term of one year in the same condition as they now are, reasonable wear and tear only accepted. And also that it should be lawful for the Society's Architect, from time to time, to enter on the said premises for the purpose of inspecting the same, and of ordering such repairs or alterations as may be considered desirable provided always, and it is hereby further agreed by the said parties that any such alterations as shall be of a permanent character shall be made at the sole cost and charge of the said Society, and that all such alterations and repairs as shall be of a temporary nature, or caused by, or by the neglect of the same Charles Wold shall be, made and executed at the sole cost and charge of the said Charles Wolf, under the direction and by the workmen appointed by the Society's Architect aforesaid.

C. Wolf

Witness John Leigh

Sir

The favour of your company is requested to dine with the Gentlemen of the Sumerean Club at Freemasons Tavern at Queen's Park, Lincoln's Inn Fields on Tuesday 4 Feby 1845 at 1/2 past 5 o'clock precisely

We beg to remain Sir
Your humble Servts.
John [Cutts] & Co

My dear Sir
I saw the skin of O Brevirostus this day at one o'clock' and examined it attentively without discovering the ocellus spot though in the other two skins it is of considerable extent too large. I should think to be so completely concealed by, a partial contraction of the skin. However Mr [Gould's?] observation in this aspect may possible be correct but as far as for the bill extending during the process of softening the skin he is altogether mistaken unless he maintains equally as the bones of the head will be prolonged in the same operation. There are besides other characters connected with the animal in question which confirm me in the idea of its being a distinct species and therefore I must request that the description be published in its present form. If there be any alteration or modification necessary it will be more properly the subject of a future notice, but delay on the present occasion would be only giving an opportunity for some other person to describe it in the meantime. I shall therefore be obliged to you to have the impression struck off as I sent it to you corrected.

Yours ever sincerely

W. Ogilby

To E.J. Bennett Esq

Letter from Edmund Wallace Elmslie, architect and surveyor of London Zoo, to William Ogilby regarding work in the Zoo by Mssrs Piper. Also an indenture between Edmund Wallace Elmslie and the Zoological Society of London regarding Elmslie's claims against the Society in relation to a contract between the Society and Mssrs Thomas Piper and Son

William Ogilby was a zoologist. He is perhaps best known for this work around the classification order of cheiropoda, linking mammals who had hands. He was ZSL Secretary from 1839-1847.

Answered July 26th 1839

Dear Sir

By one of the recent arrivals from the Cape I learn that my friends there have been kind enough among other things to send over for me what they call a large Male Water Buffalo by this I imagine they mean what I know by the name of the Bos Caffer and that is an animal that I fear is of too violent and savage a nature for me to receive him here but it is undoubtedly an animal of great rarity having I believe never before made its appearance in England (if in Europe) before above. If in that character, or any other the Council wd. consider him an acquisition to their Collection in the Park. I shall be very glad if they will do me the Honour to receive him. It will be still almost as gratifying to me as having him here at Knowsley without the continual dread I shd. be under of accidental injuries happening were he to come down hither when I have nothing like the appliances and means of Security than wd. be [?] with you. He is at present in your neighbourhood being under Mr [Garnett's?] care to whom I have also written by this Post authorising the transfer of the Beast to any one who may apply for it under authority of the Society. I have also had some intimation of a very [savage?] Black Tiger and of a very [tame?] Royal Bengal [?] being coming to me. I know not how or from whom but as another of them are in my [?] I shall beg to offer their [refusal?] to the Council if they would honour me with by their acceptance. I only heard of them casually from my Son who said someone had told him they had seen them I think at the Cape and understood they were for me. It is thus a very blind offer I am making but I thought it best to be sure of the Council's inclination against their [?] as, if declined I should [?] them to be immediately disposed of. I have also been lucky enough to enlist [Gen. J/T Anna?] in my service for [Mexican Roosters?] in return for English. I think this may be a promising speculation for me I hope you find matters [?] satisfactorily. For [?] of as I refer to Fuller to whom I also write today

Yrs very truly

Derby

To Wm. Ogilby Esq

Manchester

March 14 1845

Sir

There is one Lion with a good and showy mane. he has a defective tail, that is to say the last three inches of it is turned up abruptly; this beast I should not like to give more than three hundred guineas for - the second Lion they say is six years old, I think he is not so old; he has less mane than the one at the Gardens, that belongs to White, he is a large beast, but has what is called a broken nose, that is to say he bears the appearance that a fighting man does - he is a larger animal than the first mentioned - the outside value of this one I should say was two hundred pounds - the first mentioned one is the same sort and looks exactly like the one at the Surrey Gardens the elephant is fine and they expect a long price. I should say he was well worth six hundred pounds - the giraffe is a female, and by far the best animal in the collection, appears in perfect health and condition, she is not as I was informed crooked on the legs, but a beast well worthy of being added to our collection, let her fetch what price she will this animals is well worth three hundred and fifty guineas to the Society - the Leopard is fine, but he lost all four canines and has got a severe cold in one eye - five pounds would be plenty of money for him - The Lion cubs are male and female about 15 inches high, they were cubbed in the collection, the point of interest about them is, that they are living on good terms in the same den with the maned Lion - one of them is what is called [Mooney?] headed they are not worth £20 the two.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
Louis Prater

If the Society feel inclined to purchase the Elephant, there is a man here I think would buy our large one. The Elephant is full 8ft high