Zoological Society of London
11, Hanover Square
London W

12 Aug[us]t 1874

Dear Sir

The enclosed letters will I think, explain themselves and we shall now put your name in the list of Fellows of which I send a copy by this same post with a "double asterisk" before it

Yours truly

P.L. Sclater

B.H. Hodgson Esq.

Zoological Society of London
11 Hanover Square
London W

12 Aug[ust] 1874

Sir

I am directed by the Council of this Society to acquaint you with the following resolution which was passed at their meeting held this day "That the best thanks of the Society be offered to B.H. Hodgson Esq. F.Z.S. for his acceptable present of his collection of drawings and notes on Indian Mammals to the Society's Library"

I am Sir
Your ob[e]d[ien]t servant
P.L. Sclater
Secretary

B.H. Hodgson Esq.

Zoological Society of London
11, Hanover Square
London W

30th Jan[uary] 1875

Dear Sir,

I send the tickets herewith, we are greatly obliged to you for your letter concerning the drawings of birds in Mr. Hume's hands. I shall send him a copy of the letter so that he may have due notice of the destination of the drawings.

Yours very truly
P.L. Sclater

To B.H. Hodgson Esq.

Sent copy of 2d Edn of Zool. Catalogue Jan 1865 through J. Smith to Dublin
2 copies (Acknowledged_
2 to Dublin [?]
1 to Leyden through Pierre Nahuys
1 to Arnhem -do- -do- -do-
1 Museum of Garden of Plants Paris
1 Museum of University of Berlin
1 -do- of the Senckenbergen Soc. of Frankfurt
1 -do- of University of Edinburgh
1 -do- Nat.H[istor]y Society of Newcastle upon Tyne

All below this mark (line) sent by post Jan[uar]y 28/65
1 to Museum of Manchester Nat H[istor]y Society
1 -do- Zool. Soc[iet]y London
1 -do- Canterbury Nat. H[istor]y Society
1 to The Library of the Royal Academy of Turin
2 Baron Nahuys for Arnhem Museum
1 Col. Burrowes or Barrowed forwarded to India Museum
1 Dr. Jerdon
1 Asi. Soc[iet]y
1 Capt. Hutton through Grote

Jan 2 1844

Received of B.H. Hodgson Esq the following bird skins

4 of [Lopia?] (Himalayana
2 of Heterura (Sylvania)
1 of Pachyglossa (Melanozantha)
1 - Tarsiger (Chrysaeus)
1 - Epornis [Epornis?]
1 - Myzornis Pyyhoura
1 - Myzornis
1 - Vivia
2 - Parus

-
14

Edwd Gerrard

Jan 2[n]d 1844

Received of B.H. Hodgson Esq

397 Mammalia Skins
406 Osteological Specimens of Mammalia and
663 Osteological Specimens of Birds, and
4425 Bird Skins

Total number of specimens 5891

Edwd. Gerrard

Mammals Skins as
Above 397
Add given to
Mr Gerrard 5

                   402
                      -

Birds Skins as above 4425
Add given to Mr. G 19

                                4444

Dec 15 1844

To the Trustees of the British Museum

My Lords and Gentlemen,

With reference to my recent letter to your address relative to my zoological collections and researches I have the honor to inform you that, my immediate return to India having just been decided on, I conceive it to be on many accounts most desirable that I should carry back with me my original Drawings as well as my Notes and Memoranda, leaving only my finished series of drawings together with the whole of my specimens in the possession of the Museum to be appropriated and distributed as already proposed.

2. Accordingly I now request that my first proposition to you, my Lords and Gents. may be modified upon this plan because, in order to enable me on my return to India to resume and complete my zoological researches with the greatest rapidity and effect I shall need the whole of my original drawings and Notes, while my departure is so near that no time is left for any further proceedings in conjunction with the proposed Nominee of the Museum than the transfer to him of the specimens; and, indeed, to ensure that transfer being satisfactorily made it had become indispensable that not a moment be lost in the selection and despatch to Canterbury of the said Nominee.
3. I beg leave therefore to solicit an early decision upon this point; for the specimens to be disposed of are exceedingly numerous and valuable and have been collected at so great a cost that it is most desirable their dispersal should be adjusted as far as possible before my departure.
4. Of the series of finished drawings which I propose to present to the Museum a considerable number have been lent to an Artist of the name of Howard who [proposed?] their publication but has now desisted from that intention I recommend that steps be immediately taken by the Museum to recover possession of these drawings which were lent to Mr. Howard after they had been deposited in the Museum to which they are now presented by me, their sole and absolute owner.
5. The small portion of the series which is unfinished, shall be transmitted by me from India as soon as may be, it being no longer possible to have them finished in London as before suggested by me.
6. I return to India with the full purpose of effectively completing those researches which my sudden departure thence so sadly interrupted, and, in order, to their completion in the most satisfactory manner, I beg leave to suggest that some competent officer of the Museum be placed in communication with me and be authorised and directed to be [concert/consort?] which was mentioned in the prior letter, it being my anxious wish still to carry out, with the sanction and support of the Trustees, the complete original idea of an Illustrated Fauna of Nepal and Tibet based on these drawings; and I would accordingly hereby solicit the separate favourable consideration of the Trustees for that eventual undertaking which with the patronage of the British Museum would be extensively aided by subscriptions in India where when by sudden departure dislocated all my plans these drawings had already attracted general admiration owing to their extraordinary Zoological accuracy and to the quality of collateral illustrations of the habits and manners as well as the structures of species which they embrace and the fruit of years of continuous toil aided by the unique and irrevocable opportunities

I have [the honor to be]
Yrs
B.H. Hodgson
Late Minister at The Court of Nepal

British Museum
Dec 20 1844

Sir,

I am directed by the Trustees to acknowledge your letter dated Canterbury, December, and in reply to acquaint you that the Trustees are deeply obliged for the valuable series of Skins and Drawings which you have already presented to the Museum as well as for the liberal offer now made of completing the series.
This offer the Trustees will thankfully accept, and will instruct the proper officer to proceed to Canterbury, whenever it may be convenient to you, for the purpose of making the selection for the Museum, and of giving you such aid as he can consistently with his other public duties, in sorting the specimens to be distributed to other public Institutions, but the Trustees regret to say that to contribute in any way to the publication which you propose, does not fall within the limit of the objects to which they think it right to confine themselves.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
J. Forshall
Secretary

To B.H. Hodgson Esq

Dec 23rd 1844
R[oya]l College of Surgeons

Dear Sir,

I am requested by the President of the College to express to you the pleasure with which the College will receive the osteological specimens of the animals of Nepal and Tibet which you have liberally offered to present to the College and to state that the earliest leisure which I can [command?] will be devoted to the examination of such specimens and the deduction of the inferences as to the natural affinities and habits of the species, in order to furnish you with the information you are desirous to possess. The visit to the Museum with which you favoured me on Friday may have afforded you some means of judging of the probably advantage to Science and to the furtherance of your own investigations of the Fauna of Nepal and Tibet which may accrue by the deposition of your osteological collections in the Hunterian Museum. I need scarcely add that the expense of package and [transmission?] will be defrayed by the College, and I remain
Dear Sir
Yours truly

B.H. Hodgson Esq
Richd Owen