Pièce 2 - Letter from Edward Smith Stanley, Earl of Derby, to William Ogilby

Knowsley
Aug 8th 1847

Dear Sir

I am glad to learn by your Note of yesterday's [recd?] that the Council have agreed to your proposal of rather Warwick's and shall be very glad to receive a copy of the agreement when finally drawn up. I ought though to have replied to your Note on this matter by the last Post as you have put to me a material question, but to own the truth, I am still rather puzzled how to reply as I own I do not exactly understand what it is that Warwick wishes me to bind myself to as far as I do understand it tho' I cannot wonder at his desire to [?] himself as far as possible, it seems to me requiring me too be bound to purchase particular animals without knowing any thing as to their condition, quality or sex for it might occur that he might succeed in bringing only one sex where I desire a Pair, or that the sex may be exactly that not desired, nothing do I at this moment recollect which are the [sorts?] he alludes to. I fear therefore that without farther explanation I can hardly bind myself to that for supposing anything to happen in the interim to me, nor by [?] a claim on my successor to [make?] him buy something he might not be at all desirous of. I have again to thank you for your communication to-day of Mr ['Serright's] letter and I will lose no time in forwarding to you a Note to Messrs Drummond for the sum you mention as the amount of freight and for Mellish and his Live Stock to whom I believe Thompson will perhaps send some advices. He I find has left at The Gardens the Birds he carried up for the [?] Show, and perhaps if not inconvenient to the Socy. it might be as well to take this opportunity of coming hither by Mellish. I take this opportunity of mentioning that it is probable I may shortly have occasion to make some drafts from my animals here among others of the Hog and Barbary Deer and [?]. Would the Socy wish for any of these and what? As I should of course wish to give them a preference when I can in these matters I am glad you have heard of the [Snooks?] I had some conversations with [B. Bornon?] about them when here as he opined the emperor had not forgotten his promise. I find from Sir Robert that he has agreed to take 2 Pair of Bustards of Richter which I am glad of
Yours very truly
Derby
I fear I shall not be able to succeed with Tyler about the Impeyan Pheasants as he says he has already refused 100 for them. I wonder who has offered that sum, as I pay [?] [?] [?] not I suppose you are aware that there is a pair of Cyrus Cranes lately imported but the owner says he might be tempted by 150!! Guineas tho' he too has refused 100 It is too much - for me at least