S&SWM PR papers L1601-L1800
L1606
Davy Ansd July 20/ 96
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | London | July 17th / 96
Sir,
Some time since you called on Miss Darcy * at Salisbury, to see some Celt Moulds, I am very anxious to sell them, would you kindly tell me if you would purchase them and what is the amount you would give for them, as you are aware no doubt that they are the only ones known at present, therefore the greatest curiosity
yours truly
G. Darcy
An answer will greatly oblige
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L1609
Davy
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | W | July 22nd/ 96
Sir,
Thanks for your letter received yesterday morning, the Celt Moulds I wrote to you about, Miss Davy told me she offered them to you some years since at Salisbury, and the price was put on them was fine [illegible], but as we are anxious to sell them she would take very considerably less. The moulds are 26 inches long and 11 inches round they are granite and are for casting spear heads, they were dug up 14 feet below the surface in Devonshire, they are as you no doubt know of great antiquity.
I hope you will entertain this and make us some offer
yours truly
G. Davy
---
L1623
Ansd Aug. 12/96
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | W | Augst. 11th / 96
Sir,
Fearing you might not have received my last letter, describing the Celt Moulds, and as I am desirous of selling the, I should esteem it a great favour, if you would say whether you would like to buy them and name your own price
yours truly
G. Davy
---
L1624
Ansd Aug. 19/96
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | W | Augst. 14th / 96
Sir,
In answer to your favour of the 12th I send an outline drawing of the Celt Moulds the exact length and width also the length of spear head, I make no description of the moulds neither have I any m.. [illegible] they have always been in my possession since they were found, I [illegible] often have wished to send them to a Museum, but none [illegible] done so
yours truly
G. Davy
Copy [in pencil]
Sir,
I am directed by General Pitt R. to answer to your letter to him of the 14th inst. to say that he does not understand your letter. He wants to know the no. of moulds in all. The drawings are evidently bronze swords. You speak of Celt Moulds but there are no drawings.
Further particulars are certainly [insert] necessary [end insert] before any idea of their value can be formed
Yours obediently
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L1631
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | W | Augst. 23rd / 96
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 19th inst, I have the Celt Moulds, I send a drawing of one of them, the other is very similar. I am sorry I cannot draw it as it should be, but I hope it will give you an idea of the mould. I have no bronze swords when the two halves of the moulds are placed together there is a small cavity at the top of the mould, where the metal is poured in, the Celts [illegible] in this mould, are large and strong enough for all purposes, the moulds are granite 24 inches long and 12 inches [illegible] circumference, any further particulars I will gladly give you if I can
yours truly
G. Davy
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L1635
MacCallum Ansd Aug. 29/ 96
47 Bedford Gardens | Kensington W. | August 27/96
Dear General Fox Pitt Rivers
I am arranging an Exhibition illustrating a 1000 miles on the Nile at Graves 6 Pall Mall I am showing a few things, curios and other articles Geological artistic &c along with my own 60 pictures.
Could you possibly lend me one of three flint Bangles you had from me, and one of the flint knives?
They will be taken every care of put into a glass case and if you like they shall be insured
With kind regards to the Lady's [sic] and yourself
I am Faithfully
Your obd servant
A MacCallum
---
L1645
Ansd Sept 10/96 Copy kept | Davy
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | W | Sep. 9th / 96
Dear Sir,
Thinking you may not have received my letter with the drawing of the Celt Moulds, I am sorry to trouble you again, but will you kindly say if you would wish to buy them, and should you think a £100 too much to give for them, if so, how much [illegible] that price should you offer for them. I am very desirous just now of selling them, an answer by return will greatly oblige
yours truly
G. Davy
Copy
Rushmore | Salisbury | Sept. 19th, 1896.
Sir,
It is very difficult to form any opinion of your moulds, as you do not say how many there are, and you keep on calling them celt moulds, whereas all the drawings you have sent me are sword moulds. I think if they are all in good order and genuine, £50 would be amply sufficient for them. I gave £10 a short time ago for a beautiful bronze celt mould, found near here, with all the materials for re-casting; an excellent and rare specimen, and the finder considered himself very well paid. Before coming to any decision, it would be necessary for you to send them all here on approval. You should also send a complete list of the whole of them.
Yours &c.,
A. Pitt Rivers
----
L1650
258 Ladbroke Grove | Notting Hill | W | Sep. 11th / 96
Dear Sir,
Thanks very much for your letter this morning and offer of £50 for the moulds, I should not feel safe in sending them so far, for you to see, and I cannot exactly afford to bring them to Salisbury myself, I will tell you cordially the British has offered from 40£ to 50, and a lady has offered £60, but of course I should like to get more, the PS [?] Museum always calls them moulds for casting spear heads, I feel almost certain, I told you I have only two moulds, I believe there is a drawing of them in the British Museum thanks again for your offer, and I should like you to purchase them, but you will see, I want to get as much as I ca, cant you offer £80 for them?
yours truly
G. Davy
I am sorry to trouble you, but will you kindly answer by return.
---
L1663
Hewlett ansd. Sept 10/96
c/o Miss Hogg | Berry Mead | Brixham | Tuesday
Dear Sir,
Being extremely interested in Prehistoric archaeology, I am venturing to write and ask if I may visit your Museum next week. So far as I know at present, I shall be able to reach Salisbury, on Tuesday evening, & I hope, if you will kindly let me do so, to make my way by bicycle or carriage to see your collection the following morning. I have long been wishing for an opportunity of doing so, & Mr Andrews, of Eastbourne, has increased my desire to see your treasures by his descriptions of them.
Trusting I am not asking too great a favour.
I am
Yours truly
S.G. Hewlett
----
L1664
c/o Miss Hogg | Berry Mead | Brixham | Saturday.
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your letter and Guide. It is most kind of you to suggest coming down to the Museum yourself, and I am much looking forward to meeting you there. I shall hope to be at the Museum from 10 o'clock onwards on Wednesday morning.
I should much like to see King John's House but doubt if I can manage it next week, as I must be leaving Tisbury by the afternoon train: however I hope to do so on some future occasion.
I am writing, as you suggest, to the landlord of the Hotel.
Again thanking you for the trouble you are taking on my behalf.
I am
Yours truly
S.G. Hewlett
---
L1669
Goddard | Ansd. Nov. 24/96
The Vicarage | Shrewton. S.O. | Wilts | Oct 6.96
Dear General Pitt Rivers
I am forwarding by this post to you a small box of pot sherds dug up in removing earth from around the walls of Maddington (Wilts) Church - chiefly the Tower.
The neighbouring Manor House must have used the Ch-yard as a convenient "kitchen midden" one wd. think from the quantity of pottery turned out.
I send all the sorts found to show you the style of deposit - but the most numerous are unglazed coarse thin: red blackish or pale pink, with thick square cornered rim, the upper surface [insert] or rather edge [end insert] of which as you see generally has a more or less pronounced groove on it. something so [drawing] Some pieces have soot adhering still: all the glazed bits I have picked off the surface of a big heap of rubbish I have sent you.
I also have put a few bits I picked up on ploughed fields about Carnac in Brittany this summer - & a couple (one very coarse red, the other fine blue) from ploughed downs in Maddington parish.
I was immensely interested in the megalithic monuments of Brittany & examined some of them carefully, with a view to judging of the art & skill of the builders. Those that are worked much such as the Menhir near Dinan (St Sampoon) has been tooled to an oval section with great accuracy & care.
I noticed also that some of the stones used covering the chambers in barrows were carefully worked, and in some cases these covers seemed to me to have been tooled for menhirs, being oval in section - about the worst form for a cover stone one would think. The great carved stone in the chamber "Table des Marchands" at Carnac, was as I understand only excavated so as to be quite visible in late years. But its carving is very much weathered. Of course it may have been originally intended to be left visible - there is no apparent barrow over this chamber, & it lies so far above the surface as to show like a cromlech but as the great table or cover stone entirely roofs in the chamber & [insert] covers [end insert] the carved stone which forms its support at the head, I do not see how the weather could have beaten with sufficient violence to weather away the carving of a granite slab in its present position. Do you know these Carnac monuments? If so has it suggested itself to you that some of the more elaborately worked stones have been re-used & are not now in their original positions?
Of course one must except such stones as those of the Chamber at Gavr-inis, where they clearly are all of a piece - but there it is proved by their present positions that they were carved before placing & not always with knowledge of the position they would occupy. Without knowing Fergusson's theory of their late origin, I came to the conclusion that as at Stonehenge the people who could work stone so accurately were not barbarous of a primitive age.
If I am not boring you I should very much like to hear any ideas you have formed about the Brittany stones.
Faithfully yrs
Cecil V. Goddard
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L1690
Ansd | Jones | Ansd Nov. 17/96
Holwell | Cranborne | Nov. 14. 96
Dear Sir
Allow me to thank you very much for the views of the Larmer Grounds you so very kindly sent me they are really most exquisite & I shall value them very much indeed.
I am sending you by this post a small bronze article I picked up in Cranborne Church yard this week, whilst a grave was being dug, by the foundations of the old Priory, I thought perhaps you may know what it is, & if you would care to keep it, please do not trouble to return it
Again thanking you for your kindness
I am, yours very obediently
Tom. H. Jones
Gen: Pitt Rivers
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L1693
Jones
Holwell | Cranborne | 19 Nov 96
Dear Sir
I have to again thank you for your kind Consideration in sending me the book on "King John's House", which, to me, is very interesting & I need not add, I shall value it greatly.
For many years I assisted the late Dr Smart, who was Confined to his room the greater part of the year, so naturally feel deeply interested in any "finds", which I usually handed to him, or several specimens of pottery & other things I found in the Church yard he sent to the Dorset Museum.
In future I purpose with (your permission) forwarding anything discoveries worth sending to you.
Again thanking you for your kindness.
I am, Dear Sir,
Your obediently
Tom:H:Jones
P.S. I will send you first opportunity a few fragments of pottery &c found by myself a few years ago in an old Kiln, adjoining a Roman settlement here, & near a very find spring, [insert] from [end insert] which the late Dr Smart thought this place derived its name, viz Holwell or Holy Well, near this is a hill called "Roake" (St Roch patron of cripples) not far from the top of this hilll is a place, or village called Cripplestyle. Dr Smart was of opinion that the Romans believed this spring or well to have some healing virtues
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L1694
Ansd
Pyt House | Tisbury | Wilts | 20 Nov: 1896
Dear General,
I am sending you the Water-Pipe, which I hope will interest you.
Please excuse my not writing myself, I am just off hunting.
Yours vy truly
John Benett Stanford
p.H.E.W
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L1695
Torr | Ansd Nov 24/ 96
23.11.96 | 11, Ladbroke Gardens, W.
Dear Sir,
I believe that a terra-cotta model of a boat, which was found in Rhodes some years ago, was sold to you as lot 527 in an auction at Sotheby's on 5 December 1885.
I want to engrave this model in a History of Ancient Shipping that I have in hand at the University Press at Cambridge. will you allow me to do this?
And can you tell me whether the boat is down at Rushmore or at your London house? I should like to have the drawing made by a man who has already made a number of drawings for this book, as I want to get the illustrations as much as possible in the same style.
Faithfully yours
Cecil Torr
General Pitt-Rivers
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L1701
Torr | Ansd. Nov. 30/96
11 Ladbroke Gardens, | London. W.
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your letter I saw the boat before the sales, and recollect that it was pretty rough. But I have fourteen of these models drawn already, and I want to add the other four of which I know, in order to make this section of the work complete.
It is rather a serious matter to send the draughtsman down to Farnham for so small a thing.
Of course it would have suited me much better to have had the drawings done in town. But as you do not wish to send the thing away, I will make arrangements for his going down, as soon as he has cleared off the work he has in hand.
Faithfully yours,
Cecil Tor
Friday 27 November.
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L1702
Ansd Jan 15/ 97
11 Ladbroke Gardens, W.
Dear Sir,
I am very much obliged to you for your suggestion of the photograph. That would quite answer my purpose.
Might I ask that the photograph should give the boat at exactly half the actual size, and that the boat should be put a little on one side, to give a view of the interior as in the engravings I enclose?
With very many thanks,
Faithfully yours
Cecil Torr
1 December 96
---
L1703
Holwell | Cranborne | 3 Dec.
Dear Sir
I have today sent you (as promised in my letter of 19th Nov, when writing to thank you for the book you so kindly sent me) a box, to be left at Butts the saddler, at Handley till call'd for. Containing fragments of pottery &c found in & near an old kiln here.
You will think them poor specimens, but I have sent you the best pieces, & if you care to keep any, or all, please do so.
In my letter of 19th I gave particulars of places &c where found (which according to the late Dr Smart) leads to the belief of a Roman settlement here - any further information I shall be only too pleased to give if wanted. I may mention all the pieces sent were found, with the exception of those marked, "found in Cranborne Church yard" about 30 yards from the spring or pond referred to in my last letter. The Kiln being about 6 ft deep, in chalk soil.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours very obediently
Tom:H:Jones
Gen: Pitt-Rivers
----
L1709
Beaumont Ansd. Dec. 15/96
Witchampton | Wimborne | Dec: 10th /96
Dear General Pitt-Rivers
We are sending to-day - by parcel post - a few little things which we should feel honoured if you would accept for your Museum. When we were last in town I was looking through my father's collection & found him talking of giving the Carib Pillow to the British Museum. So I begged it from him & when he found it was for the purpose of asking you to accept it foryour museum he let me have it as he was greatly interested & pleased with your colllection when he was here in the summer. The stone implement seems a particularly fine one too.
The Cameo, we thought would intrest you as being the work of a Negro lad trained in an Art School started (for native boys) in Nassau, Bahamas, by my father, some few years ago. Some of the lads showed great talent. The other beans & seeds are all West Indian. I understand that the marks of wear on the Carib pillow are caused by the action of the water in the cave.
With remembrances to Mrs Pitt Rivers from Fred & myself
Believe me
Very truly yours
Clare L. Beaumont.
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L1717
S. Richards | Friar Lane | Nottingham | Dec 22/96
Harold Gray Esq
Dear Sir
I am obliged for your note, and enclose invoice for the items kept.
A weak solution of ammonia & water in which the small silver objects are immersed for a short time, after which [insert] wash well in clear water & [end insert] cover them with warmed sawdust to dry them, is the easiest method of cleaning the little silver objects. A solution of cyanite of potassium & water will do it better still, but as it is exceedingly poisonous it is not as frequently met. Most collectors prefer not to have them bright, as they come out of the bath like new silver, and of course lose a little of the surface every time it is done.
Yours respectfully
S. Richards
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L1719
Henley Park | Henley-on-Thames | Oxon.
Dearest General
A happy Xmas to you and [2 words illegible] of them. We are bringing you a present of some sleigh bells for the museum I think they are cowbells but you shall decide. We arrive on the 27th & hope Willy will leave some hunting. Kattie [?] was so grateful for the loan of yr. lamps The dance was a great success and she has a children's dance on the 25th With best love from Willy and yr very aff Blossie Fox Pitt.
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L1721
4 Warwick studios: Kensington: 26 Dec 1896
Dear Sir,
I have heard with much pleasure from Mrs Wyndham, saying that you would like me to take my work down to your house at Rushmore, to show you. I shall be very happy indeed to do this. And I thought that Thursday next the 30th inst. might be convenient to you: and being the earliest day which I can get my few things together.
One of my pieces of work which I should so much like you to see being one of the best, is now on loan at Sth Kensington Museum. I have asked to be allowed to take it down to you. And Mr Skinner the assistant Director says that if you will be so kind as to write to him asking for it to be sent to you that (if they can persuade the owners to let it go) They will send it insured and ask you to return it in the same manner. If you will be so kind as to do this I shall be so much obliged. I am writing to the owner by the same post.
Believe me Yrs most faithfully
Alex. Fisher
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L1722
30.12.1896 From | Geo. F. Lawrence | 7 West Hill | Wandsworth S.W. | To: General Pitt Rivers F.R.S.
Dear Sir
I have already had several applications for the hoe & naturally am somewhat in doubt as to its value. I am not very anxious to part with it at present, as I have only had it a few days - & as I have had it such a short time I should not be inclined to part with it unless I had a good offer. it is perfectly genuine in every way & I am advised that it is worth at least fifty guineas as no such thing is likely to be found again - it would not be safe to send but ought to be taken by hand. Of course if the price is prohibitive, I am always open to an offer.
With compliments & best wishes for the new Year
I am
Yours most obediently
Geo Lawrence
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L1726
The Club | Nicosia | Cyprus | Jan 6th/ 97
My dear Father
I have been here a week and although - fortunately for the country - it has rained nearly every day I find the climate delightful. Any impressions I have are necessarily premature so I need not mention them - I mean as regards the industrial and commercial aspect of the island.
I am profitting by my experience and making the acquaintance of the officials. I now know a good many & they are very pleasant fellows. I wrote my name at Government House and sent a letter of introduction from Lord Selbourne (Under Sec. for Colonies) up to the High Commissioner with my card.
I have just returned from a 3 days trip through the Kyrnia [Kyrenia] Mountains. I went to the Armenian Courcut [?] which has only 2 families of 10 persons in it. The country is most beautiful, the other side of Northern Range. The Plain of Mesaoria where I am is not beautiful - Prof. Geddes arrives at Larnaca next Wed Jan. 13th having been detained as I explained in my last letter in Constantinople.
I am fortunate enough to have made the Grenadiers' acquaintance He is Government inspector of Agriculture. I go with him tomorrow on a tour through the S.W. part of the island. Mules are always used here for travelling I shall almost live on horse back.
I have already seen a good deal of Cyprus embroidery in silk & cotton. The native silk lace is very pretty I shall be able to bring you back as much as you like of various kinds of work. As regards other things, pottery, etc, I can tell you when I know more.
I have written to Bouverie to send my allowance here I also mentioned that I was writing to you to get my allowance increased to the original £50 a quarter. I hope you will do this and be kind enough to write to Bouverie at once to tell him. I only arrived here with £23 having had many expenses at Montpellier and on the journey, So I hope to have the allow-ance by return. I am writing to Douglas by this post.
Your affec son
Lionel Fox Pitt
----
L1729
Andrew | Ansd Jan 25/97
Cadster House | Near Whaley Bridge | Derbyshire | 9:1:97
Dear Sir
In your account in Archaeologia 47.2 of excavations at Caesars Camp Folkestone you mention the discovery of a coin of the reign of Stephen.
May I venture to ask you in possession the coin now is? I am engaged on a numismatic history of that reign and wish to record its whereabouts
If it is in your collection I shall be happy to give you some information about it which I think you will find interesting
yours truly
W.J. Andrew
(Mem. Lond. Numis'c Society)
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L1736
Ansd Jan 25/97
Jany 22d/189 [sic] | Clouds | Salisbury |
My dear General
I do hope that you are better though fear you must be quite shut up - in all this cold weather, happily your house is deliciously warm. When I was last abroad I found some dear little models of the old Provençal fire fittings I saw them yesterday & suddenly thought they might be of some interest to you, for your museum, better than wasting their [illegible] in my cupboard. If you care for them pray accept them [insert] I should feel so proud if you do so [end insert] but, if they can be of no use send them back as they [insert] can [end insert] act as toys for various grand children! trusting that you are truly getting stronger [illegible] in this bitter weather [illegible] love to Mrs Pitt Rivers Believe me yours most sincerely
Madeline Wyndham
Jany 22 1897
A Fender
A pair of fire dogs
A shovel & a pair of tongs
Miniature of the old Provençal fire place fittings bought at Hyeres Var 1895
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L1739
23.1.97 | 11 Ladbroke Gardens | London, W.
Dear Sir,
The photographs of the galley reached me this morning, and I feel very much indebted to you for your kindness in having them taken for me. They will answer my purpose admirably. I shall instruct the draughtsman to make a pen and ink drawing from one of them in the same style that he has used in drawing the other terracotta boats. As soon as his drawing has been zineotyped and worked in to a plate of illustrations, I will send you a proof of the plate. Of course, this will take some weeks; or possibly months.
I imagine that the photographs represent the galley at half its natural size. Would you mind sending me a line to say if that is really so?
With very many thanks
Faithfully yours,
Cecil Torr
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L1761
Ansd. Apr. 6/97
The Burlington Fine Arts Club | 17 Savile Row, W. | 12th March 1897
Sir,
I am instructed to send you copy of a notice which the Committee have issued to the members of the Club regarding an Exhibition to be held shortly of objects illustrating the history of Enamel.
Her Majesty the Queen and the principal collectors are contributing, and it is intended that the Exhibition shall be completely representative of the best work of every period. In furtherance of this object the Committee venture to hope that it may be possible for the Club to have the loan of some specimens from your collection.
It is proposed to open the exhibition in May and to close it at the end of June or the beginning of July.
The utmost care is taken of objects entrusted to the Club, and insurance affected against all risks, including transit to and from the Club, as well as while here.
I am
Your obedient Servant
John Beavan
Secretary
Lt. Gen Pitt-Rivers | 4 Grosvenor Gardens | S.W.
Enclosure:
BURLINGTON FINE ARTS CLUB
The committee of the Burlington Fine Arts Club have decided to organise an Exhibition (to be opened in the Gallery of the Club in May next) of objects illustrating the history of ENAMEL. It will include Enamels of all kinds, including gold and silversmiths' work with enamelled details, from the earliest period to the end of the XVIIth century, with the exception of Oriental Enamels, which will not form part of this Exhibition.
It is hoped that an Introduction, giving a full history of Enamels, will be prefixed to the Catalogue, which will in form be similar to those of previous Club Exhibitions, and be printed for presentation to Members and Contributors.
As the Committee are desirous of making this Exhibition fully illustrative of the history of such Enamels, and representative of the best work of every period, they would be extremely obliged if Members would be kind enough, at their earliest convenience, to inform them whether they have any, and what, specimens which they would be willing to contribute, and to give them any information as to the owners of suitable objects.
It is understood that, as on previous occasions, the Committee are compelled to reserve to themselves an absolute power of acceptance or rejection.
By order of the Committee,
JOHN BEAVAN,
Secretary
17 Savile Row,
March, 1897
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L1772
Ansd Apr. 3/97
The Strand Magazine | Southampton Street, Strand | London W.C. | March 24th 1897
To General Pitt-Rivers
My dear Sir,
We should like to have in "The Strand Magazine" a popular illustrated article dealing with your interesting anthropological work. Would you, therefore, have the goodness to grant an interview to one of our representatives. At this interview not only might the scope of the article be definitely arranged but you could also probably put up in the way of procuring interesting anthropological photos. of relics and curiosities that have come under your notice.
I have the honour to remain
Yours very truly
for the Editors
W.G. Fitzgerald
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L1773
Standen | Mar. 28/97
Vauvert | Guernsey | Channel Islands | 26th March/ 97
Dear General Pitt Rivers
I am so sorry to have been so long sending you the Russian pad-lock which I promised you when we met over your most delightfully interesting Museum in November last. I dare say that you have forgotten us but we shall never forget that pleasant afternoon!
How little we thought then, that my husband's [illegible] cousin, Sir Thomas Grove, would so soon be called away!
I hope that you are feeling better and that Mrs Pitt-Rivers and your sons are well We were so sorry to hear that Lady Walter Grove had not been well. I trust that it was not anything serious
Ever yours sincerely
[illegible] K. Standen
P.S. General & Mrs Hamilton are in Guernsey now for a short time Dear Kathleen de Montmorency was with us yesterday A.S.
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L1778
Ansd. Apr. 6/97
The Burlington Fine Arts Club | 17 Savile Row, W. | 2nd April 1897
[Repeats exactly the message of the letter sent in L1761, except for date, including the enclosure]
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L1783
The Strand Magazine | Southampton Street, Strand | London W.C. | April 6th 1897
To General Pitt-Rivers | Salisbury
My dear Sir,
I will take the earliest opportunity of coming down to see you and to map out our proposed article.
Yours very truly
W.G. Fitzgerald
pp LLP
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L1784
Ansd Apr. 12/97
The Burlington Fine Arts Club | 17 Savile Row, W. | 7th April 1897
Sir,
I am instructed by the Enamels Exhibition Committee to thank you for your kind letter of the 6th. They would be very glad to have the pair of enamelled fire dogs of the time of Charles I., and the enamelled disc the coloured drawing of which I return. Will you kindly send these at your convenience and they will be much obliged.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant
John Beavan
Secretary
Lt Genl Pitt Rivers | Rushmore
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L1785
'... I feel bound to decline your most kind invitation to your 70th birthday. You have my very heartiest good wishes, & it is a most sincere disappointment to me that I shall be unable to offer my congratulations in person. Had it fallen to my good fortune to have proposed your health I should have tried to do justice to the theme & the occasion. …
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L1786
The Strand Magazine | Southampton Street, Strand | London W.C. | April 9th 1897
My dear Sir,
I am obliged for your kind letter and have taken note of your very kind invitation to lunch.
Do I understand that Tisbury is the nearest station? If so I suppose I could get a conveyance at the station to take me on to your place at Rushmore
Faithfully yours
Wm Geo Fitzgerald
To General A. Pitt-Rivers
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L1788
Penmaenmawr Apr 13 97
Dear General Pitt-Rivers
It was a pleasure to recognize your handwriting this morning after so long a time since last hearing. I am sorry to hear of your having been out of health of late, but at any rate you manage to keep up your work which is the greatest of consolations. I speak feelingly having had a long and severe illness last year and though better now, finding work no longer easy. In writing about the Kopis series I had better not trust to memory, but in a week or two I shall be back in Oxford and will go over them with Balfour. My impression is that the series is much or altogether on the original lines, and that the drawings go with the specimens. No doubt the geographical continuity in such series is as important as it would be to a zoological. Indeed the problem which most occupies me is to trace inventions &c from their geographical origins, especially because ideas and customs are so apt to follow the same tracks. In working out the whole course of culture, it seems to me that to follow the diffusion of such a thing as a special weapon, is to lay down the main lines of the whole process, so that I should be among those most interested in the travelling of the Kopis.
In three weeks or so you will hear from me again. I go on getting Tasmanian implements which continue to conform to the same type, with variants
yrs very tly
Edward B Tylor
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L1789
Read | Ansd Apr. 22
13 April 1897 | British Museum | London: W.C.
Dear General Pitt Rivers
I am glad you keep on as Local Secretary* - It is fitting you should from our point of view.
I will certainly take the earliest opportunity of seeing your "Local Museum". It is absurd that I have never seen it as a visit would be both b...[illegible] & pleasure. My view of Local Museums generally is that their value depends less on the Museum than the man at the head of it. My old chiefs ** view was to a certain extent justified by his experience & even my own - the local museum sold local things to neighbouring people: but when I offered to clear them out of a lot of ethnographical curios which they thought nothing of, they immediately had a general meeting & passed a Resolution that nothing was ever to be sold or parted with - their local antiquities all the time were going to rack & ruin for want of cases, wh'ch my money would have provided. This is a fair example of our experience
I am sorry to tell you that Sir Wollaston is very ill - He has been more or less an invalid all this year & now is practically confined to the house. My [illegible] will depend to a great extent on his condition, which I hope may improve.
I am sorry to hear you complain of infirmities still
Yours very truly
Charles H Read
I wish something could be found for Payne - he has applied for Plymouth Museum to be forwarded I dont know if you have any influence there
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L1790
Objects sent on Apr. 16/97
The Burlington Fine Arts Club | 17 Savile Row, W. | 13th April 1897
Sir,
The Enamels Exhibition Committee are much obliged by your letter - They will be glad to receive the objects, but do not wish to have the reproduction referred to, as they do not propose to show any reproductions.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant
John Beavan
Secretary
Lt Genl Pitt Rivers
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L1793
The Burlington Fine Arts Club | 17 Savile Row, W. | 17th April 1897
Sir,
I am instructed to acknowledge with the best thanks of the Committee, the safe receipt of the pair of Enamelled Fire Dogs and the Small Circular Pendant which you have kindly lent for the forthcoming Exhibition.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant
John Beavan
Secretary
Lt Genl Pitt Rivers
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L1794
[Note in pencil, from Thompson?, he went to Cyprus 1st w in Jan 97]
Nicosia | April 20
My dear Father
It is waste of time telling you about the GReeks and Turks and Crete, as you are much better informed by the Times telegrams than we are here. At the time of writing the Greeks [insert] in Cyprus [end insert] are paying their shillings & subscribing to receive telegrams from Athens about the war. There is great excitement but no one fears any trouble. They are sending, however, 200 (!) troops from Alexandria in case of disturbances. You will have seen the Professor and know all about his plans so I need not mention them. I have just recovered from a very mild attack of Cyprus fever it is very unpleasant, and I must take better case of myself especially as the weather is getting hot.
Out here the English do not share the enthusiasm felt in England for the Greeks as they are not altogether a loveable race from an English point of view. You would not find a single Englishman in the East who would not rather fight for the Turks. I have not been here long enough to dislike them thoroughly, but I already know they are not to be trusted more especially when you hear them say that they hope to have Cyprus before long.
I propose to leave here the end of May - the latest - and I want to go with the Armenian expert to Milan to study the irrigation works of the Po river for a few days on my way home. I have found furnishing my room, buying horses and especially my garden very expensive. The garden will only begin to pay when I have to leave, as I began late - under these circumstances I want you to send me £20 more, by return if you will, to enable me to get back. I have already bought considerable amount of womans work which I will bring you, and will get you other things that will do for the Museum. I dont feel up to writing much of a letter just now but will write more if I can before the post goes on Friday yr aff L. Fox Pitt
Capital invested
Garden
2 Horses ----- £14
Garden tools, harness etc ----- £6
Repairing well ----- £2
Stables ----- £1
Seed etc ----- £1
Preliminary labour to clear garden ----- £6
------------
£30
Besides 3/- a day labour = 21/- a week for 10 weeks £10.10
Furnishing room ----- £11
--------------
£51.10
Besides all this, travelling about with Professor & a hundred & one other exs. and having exs. & servant
OVER
All this has been very expensive and I undertook to do it at the very sensible suggestion of the Professor. I have at any rate learnt how not to do things at a comparatively low cost and chiefly out of my allowance.
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L1796
The Strand Magazine | Southampton Street, Strand | London W.C. | April 21st 1897
My dear Sir,
I sincerely hope you will not think me discourteous in not having visited you before. The fact is I am occupied night & day in the preparation of a great article on the Royal Family necessitating almost daily journeys to Windsor & the other Royal Palaces. I think this explanation due, because I am really looking forward with interest to my visit to your place. I want that visit to be at a time when I have virtually two disengaged days - which should be in a week or two at most.
I am
Yours very truly
Wm Geo Fitzgerald
To General Pitt-Rivers
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L1797
Science and Art Department South Kensington | 21 April 1897
Dear Gen: Pitt Rivers,
Pray excuse the very great delay in replying to your letter of a fortnight back, with respect to the Maori House which we have packed away in one of our sheds. I called for all the papers relating to its coming into our possession and have had to wait some time for them. Now I find the only difficulty in the matter to be that of obtaining consent from the New Zealand Gov. which is probable the S&A Dep [Science & Art Department] would require before parting with it. I am not sure however but think that if you address a formal letter to Sir J. Donnelly as Sec'y to the Dep asking for the House to be transferred to the Farnham Museum and offering to erect it there at your own expense it is probable that we will be able to get the Agent General for New Zealand to consent without giving you any further trouble. I believe that every one here will be glad to know that it is again erected and will assist in facilitating the transfer to your Care. I am glad to hear that you have purchased some of the best examples of the Indian woodwork from the Earl's Court Exhibition. Many of the pieces were very choice and not likely to be matched by any modern work.
Yours very faithfully
C. Purdon Clarke
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L1798
Sent by Registered letter post on Apr. 28/97
The Burlington Fine Arts Club | 17 Savile Row, W. | 22nd April 1897
Sir,
I am desired by the Enamels Exhibition Committee to ask whether you could kindly provide them with the loan of a "small lozenge shaped badge with arms of Philippe in red enamel" - If so, it could perhaps be conveniently sent in a registered packet by post
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant
John Beavan
Secretary
Lt Genl Pitt Rivers | Rushmore | Salisbury
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L1799
Read
23 April 1897 | British Museum | London W.C.
Dear General
I shall certainly make an effort to come and see you and your new gallery when it is done.
Of course I know generally what you have done in your museum and I think the idea an admirable one, though it is a pity you are so far from everywhere.
I shall read your account of the bronze camps with great interest. I always think Sir John Evans missed a great opportunity in writing his bronze book - It ought to have been a treatise on the subject, instead of a kind of catalogue raisonné of types.
I am struggling with a handbook of our prehistoric collections - a thing that as never existed up to now. It will I hope be the fore runner of a series of text books of British archaeology - up to the Conquest.
Sir Wollaston does not improve, I grieve to say. He will not be at the Anniversary today - a great disappointment to him
I hope you will manage to prevent the erection of butts over the Group of five barrows on the Plain in the part bought by the W. Office. They ought to be properly explored first.
I trust you are better,
Yours very truly
Charles H Read
Transcribed by AP for The Rethinking Pitt-Rivers project June 2011
