Transcribe Adams, William. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1873-12-03)

ybg Dundee, Scotland 3rd. December 1873 Mr Henry A. Ward Rochester N. Y. U. S. of America Dear Sir,

    I am duly in receipt of your letter with refer-

ence to my supplying you - when able to do so - with specimens of Natural History from the Arctic Regions. Of course I make the getting of these a secondary matter to the main object of my voyages of the Seal & Whale Fishery, but there are very few of my voyages in which I cannot arrange to secure a few Specimens of some of the animals of the Southern latitudes Such as Walrus skeletons, Skulls or Skins, Narwhals, Seals, Polar Bear Skins, Wolf & Foxx Skins & e. I have an agreement with my owners Messr Alex Stephen & Sons by which I share in the proceeds of such articles & in the event of my selling you some they would be invoiced through them The price is not easily stated before hand as it depends on the scarcity of the animals. difficulty of getting the spec- imens preserved & e. but I would be glad to do my best to obtain what you want. At present we have for sale a very fine skeleton of a full grown Female Walrus with both tusks & quite complete in every part. I think it will be from 10 to 12 ft long. There are two skulls with the same size, one of them a little damaged where struck but the other quite entire, both would go with the skeleton. We have refused an offer of 25 lbs for this skeleton & have got as much as 40 & 45 lbs. for them, but would let you