Transcribe Baker, A. B. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-10-12)

Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 12, '81

                             Dec 24

Dear Prof. Ward,

  Your telegram from Singapore was

received in due time. As steamer does not sail till the 20th we have delayed writing till now in order to give all the news at once. Will take up events which have happened since we last wrote you somewhat in order of their occurrence. Profs Agassiz & Allen ^(at Agassiz' request)^ both wrote that some mis- take had been made about Gorilla skeletons - that they have had one for a long time and that what they wanted was a stuffed one. In paying, they subtracted price of Gorilla ($350.) Agassiz does not know whether the order for Gorilla was verbal or written, but remembers having ordered one stuffed. In a later letter he says he may have seen the fine skeleton when at Rochester and "succumed", but in any case he prefers that the matter should rest till your return. We have looked through his and Allen's letters for several years back and find no order for Gorilla.

 Prof. Agassiz (or Allen) takes all the birds which Gerrard

sent on approval except 2. Those taken cost 13 pounds Gerrard wrote seeking for 4 more Hatteria, 2 medium