LETTERS FROM JOHN BROWN TO S. P. WOODWARD. 141
that is connected with the diagrams which I sent you to enlarge for me,
and which I find you was so kind as to do. All that is very, very obliging
of you; but you have (undesignedly, I am sure) anticipated me with regard
to the paper. That is the very thing I was preparing at home, and have
now completed, and meanwhile I sent the diagram to you to ask you if you
should have time to enlarge it for me, I knowing as I do your multifareous
duties.
I had also collected and prepared three groups of fossils from the
three localities which produced the Post Tertiary fossils; in all, a con-
siderable number ; and these, displayed on the taae, would have given
an increased interest to the paper. These I would have either brought
or sent, and, after the paper had been read, I should have given [them]
to the Society, provided they thought them worthy of acceptance.
However, as it is, I shall still offer them, as I consider the shells from
the whole of these raised beds of high interest, especially those from the
valley of the Colne.
I shall feel obliged by your favouring me with a copy of the paper or
the thing itself, and I will return it again. I am sorry that I was not more
explicit in my letter that I sent with the section, and shall readily pay any
expense that may be incurred by my own neglect. And with the shells
from the Post Tertiary beds, I will send the paper at the same time. There
would be no harm in offering it to the notice of the Society, as it was my
intention to send it through your hands in the first instance; but, if I do
send it, I must beg of you to lend it me for a short time afterwards, and,
if you wish it, I will return it. But I must appeal to you in this, as in all
other instances of etiquette with regard to the Geol. Society.
If you can spend a week or two with me this Xmas, I shall be glad to
see you, to help me eat some of my poultry, etc., etc.
The Colchester people are about forming a Literary and Philosophical
Institution. A Committee is formed and laws made, but they have as yet
made no progress in raising money, which will be the next consideration.
The Committee meets again to-morrow (Monday) evening. There are
various opinions as to its success, the elements are so incongruous.
Stanway, Jan. 25th, 1845.
I am much disappointed that I have not had the pleasure of seeing you
before this, as I had anticipated, but I am sorry to say that I have been
very unwillingly detained at home by my little agricultural affairs, which
have not gone so smoothly as I could have wished. At Michaelmas last,
my old servants were exchanged for new ones, that were strangers to my
horses and cattle; and to me it always takes a short time to get things
settled in a f arm after changing the men. But we are now getting more
settled into our regular way, and I think long to break away and have a
little relief, which I am panting to do the first opportunity.
Stanway, May 31st, 1845.
I have just completely fixed up my Elk's skull and horns in my own
house, which is very unfit for them; but I am loth to disturb them again
so soon, and it is dangerous to be taking them up and down so often. But
their grand eur is lost in my low room.
I think very likely that the white bed you speak of at Orford is the 
upper part of the London clay stained white with the calcareous matter
from the Cor. Crag, though you do not state whether the fossils are found
in clay or sand? There is a junction of the London Clay and Crag near
to, if not at, Orford.
I am very glad to hear that our friend Mr. Hall is employed in a very
large establishment in London, at a good salary.