Transcribe Lucas, Frederic A. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1879-11-23)

ybg Rochester, N. Y. Nov. 23 / 79, Dear Prof. Ward.

             Your cards of 20 21, 22 are at hand. Don't

you think you are a little bit hard on me in regard to the bills ? Marsh's bill you did not ask for, but asked what of his was remaining. This I told you and the trouble we were having with it. Since then the lamp has leaked twice and when the bones are out it was necessary to put them back. Now suely it is not my fault that the bones are greasy. The Cambridge things have not gone and I can not tell exactly what will go until they are fairly packed I can not send a bill for them. The bill for Smithsonian was mailed to you </u before the boxes were shipped >. and you can not complain of delay there, or ought not to. Mistakes I am willing to own I make, and I am very sorry for them although I do not always say so. They happen so often that it is useless to try and excuse them and I can only say that it is in me to blunder just as much as it is in Charlie to behave as he has. But that I wilfully neglect your business and to not try to have things go on well, or that I do not endeavor to have the specimens finished well, or that