Transcribe Baker, A. B. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-08-11)

the Bulletin will have a good effect in bringing in orders.

  A letter came from Hume about a week

ago and was forwarded to Mr. Howell. He was so busy that he did not read it for several days and has not yet returned it. You will receive copy of it from them. Hume positively refuses to let you have the large collection, He not only will not have it broken up, but he will not sell it to any small museum or private collector. He prefers to sell it in America as his own collection goes to the British Museum. If he cannot sell it here he will try Europe, and failing there will give it to some English Museum. He would like to have the Smithsonian take it, and wants you to try them - he to have 500. pounds for it, and you yo get commission from the Smithsonian He considers that spending, as he does, 3000.pounds a year on ornithology; </s th> 500. pounds is too small a matter to haggle over. He will </s. hold > keep the offer open to you till Feb. '82. I have asked Mr. Howell what he thinks best to do and he will write you about it.

  A letter came for you today from Sidney

Burnett from Bogota. He says "I find I can