807 - CARPENTER, William Benjamin (1813–1885), English naturalist. Signed autograph letter. London, November 21, 1847. 4 pp. small 8vo.

CARPENTER, William Benjamin (1813–1885), English naturalist. Signed autograph letter. London, November 21, 1847. 4 pp. small 8vo. A very interesting letter regarding his research and illustrated publications on shells: “[…] I have the pleasure of sending you the plates and proofs of my second report, which you were kind enough to request, along with a complete copy of my first report, published in the Transactions of the British Association for 1844. I have marked on them—please note—not only the name of each subject, but also the paragraphs of the text in which its description can be found. In one or two instances, the illustration and description do not quite match, either because the artist did not accurately depict the subject or because the lithographic process did not do justice to the drawing. This is especially the case with Fig. 47. I shall send you a complete copy of this second report—which is all I shall publish on the subject for the time being—as soon as it comes off the press; and I hope, in the near future, to be able to send you an abstract suitable for inclusion in the “Annales,” in accordance with the wish you were kind enough to express. I am very sorry that I have no better collection of specimens to send you than those I am enclosing; but having given away several hundred (I might almost say a thousand) duplicates, I have but a few left. I would have been particularly glad to send you some specimens from my collection of the [?] shell, but I have none on hand that would be worthy of your acceptance. As soon as I can find the time to make some more, I will send them to you […].” Carpenter says he is flattered that his correspondent admires his research and asks him to formally express this esteem to help further its recognition.