68 paintings depicting various sections of (mostly) horse limbs and organs, showing disease and damage. The artworks are mostly watercolours, and those that are dated or signed range from 1820-1848.

Twenty-one of the paintings are signed by W Field (as well as the artist’s name) and it is assumed these were given to the RCVS by ex-President William Field, in a large presentation to Library and Museum in 1877. The reason these paintings were made, and why Field collected them, is unknown. Amongst Field’s collection, the paintings are signed by A A Cane, Joseph Perry and G Kirtland.

Twenty seven other artworks are by William Henry Kearney (1800-1858). The remaining 20 artworks are unsigned and undated, and do not seem to be related to the other two collections.

21 – Letter to Mary Ann Smith from Frederick Smith, 29 Oct 1900

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[FS/2/2/4/2/21] (1)

Kroonstad 1900

*[1]

*[2]

[No Salutation]

[[1]] yesterday morning or Monday night by a bullet in the neck while asleep. I only saw him the day before & told him how much better he was looking & he said he felt wonderfully better poor chap he is gone, another victim to our policy of humanity & civilization. I am sorry for his wife & poor little boy. I have thought of them many times to day[sic]. I wonder whether he would even have thought of mine? Prince Christian Victor’s death came in this morning[3] — flags half-mast high.

I still hope my photo by Moore may turn up but I begin to doubt it. I thought it would amuse you to read of the people who wanted my house. I dont[sic] intend they shall have it until I’ve done with it & goodness knows when that will be. The ‘washer-lady’ was an awful caution. I had no idea there was a second one in the world.

Well we are laying the whole of the Free State desolate it is necessary. every town & village is a Boer stronghold, the people feed them, hide them & keep ammunition for them. The whole place is being razed to the ground & the women & children brought in. I pity the latter poor little things what an experience. You

[[2]] can only conceive what it is by having an armed party come to the Croft[4], give you a few minutes to take out your personal property such as money & then the damage begins. All the windows are just pulled out to use the wood for firing then everything is piled up in the middle of the rooms on the table & the fire lighted below, after the whole place is burned out, the walls are blown down with dynamite & this is being done everywhere.

The whole village of Botha-ville[sic] has been levelled to the ground except the Dutch church. It was here that de Wet[5] drew his supplies from. By destroying the country we prevent the men from living, they carry no food or ammunition & therefore have no transport every farm feeds them. But where there are no farms they must give in or starve. Its horrible work thank Heavens I have to take no share in it. This morning I saw women being escorted in by Tommies[6] with Rifle & bayonet

I dont[sic] why. One had an immense woman with the hideous black bonnet like this[7] [illustration] that they all wear which hides their faces

[[3]] completely, had eight children all of a size, behind walked poor T.A.[8] hating the job most heartily, I expected any minute to see him pick up one of the tiny stragglers & carry it. It would have been a touch to have completed the picture; one child was crying & that always distresses me. All these people have Kruger[9] Steyn[10] & certain English MP’s to thank for all the untold misery they are suffering. Talk of pacifying the country. Why as long as you & I live it will be a second Ireland. Much better deport the lot, & give them a place to themselves. I dont[sic] blame the war, it was inevitable, these people made up their mind to drive us into the sea & divide South Africa between them — that is the other side of the picture. The present business will last for months, probably a year or two, we will wear them down by slow degrees, but they are very obstinate, it would not last three months if we undertook to do the job thoroughly but it is no use burning one farm & leaving its neighbours standing. The Scotch hospital has gone home & most of the sisters with it. They seemed to

[[4]] have very little else to do but boast & go about with cameras. I heard that they nearly had so many they could not employ them all. There are fewer now. I fancy there must have been many engagements for the students (who came out as hospital orderlies) nurses & doctors were very thick. I do not think they are of the same class as the Netley sisters, lots of them appeared on very friendly terms with the men. There is a Dutch nurse here who originally belonged to a Boer ambulance. She is a very fine young woman & very pretty. She has settled down here apparently as a monthly nurse — [13 lines redacted].

[Letter Incomplete — No Valediction]

(Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study the electronic images of this document where possible. (https://vethistory.rcvsknowledge.org//archive-collection/fs-working-papers/)

[1] Annotated with, presumably the page number, ‘2’

[2] Annotated with ‘Majr J Hanwell RA’

[3] Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein (1867-1900) died in Pretoria of enteric fever on 29 October 1900. He was the grandson of Queen Victoria

[4] Smith’s home – The Croft, Little Heath, Charlton, in South East London

[5] Christiaan Rudolf de Wet (1854 –1922) was a South African Boer general, rebel leader and politician.

[6] Slang term for soldiers in the British Army

[7] Illustration by Smith of a black bonnet.

[8] “Tommy Atkins” Slang for common British Soldier.

[9] Paul Kruger (1825-1904), President of the South African Republic 1883-1900

[10] Martinus Theunis Steyn (1857-1916), president of the Orange Free State from 1896 to 1902

22 – Undated partial letters to Mary Ann Smith from Frederick Smith, c. Jul-Aug 1900

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[FS/2/2/4/2/22] (1)

*[1]

Kroonstad 1900

[No Salutation]

[[1]] of some use to him, & in return he gave me the Chateau in which I am now living. further I can arrange with him to keep it on when I go away inspecting[2] at any time. We were talking about the destruction of the farms here by burning. We are burning 35 belonging to rebels & the poor little children & women are sent in here. Its a sad sight for war to be made on children but so it is. He told me in confidence that an officer sent out with type written orders so that no mistake could be made actually burned down the farm & home of a loyal subject!! There are some fools outside the A.V.D[3]!

Hallet does all my mending, quite good on socks. He has also put a new tail to my shirt, at first he used a piece of rough flannel belonging to an old shirt of his own, but that scrubbed the J.B off me. Then a bold plan suggested itself & that was to cut up the worst shirt in order to repair the best & that has been done with great success.

My drawers have got two big eyes in the seat of them these will also have a bit of flannel let into them. He takes quite an interest in this work, but he must not be hurried he has but one pace as you know — I have a clerk an Irish Yeoman oh! such a beauty he can neither take nor deliver a message he can write, but cannot read my copy very well

[[2]] Here is an example of his intelligence. He was copying something I was sending to Duck[4] in which I said “The A.V.D are asked to make bricks without straw: — My clerk wrote “The A.V.D are asked to make “drinks without shame”! I think that takes the biscuit. You can see what a really useful man he is.

King G.O.C[5] to Hunter[6] has just been in he was going away today but could not get off, we met last night at dinner & tonight we are both dining with the same fellow. He is a bright cheery fellow full of yarns he was shut up in L’Smith with Hunter. Describing Hunter he said that his utter indifference to danger is remarkable & is in fact absolute recklessness. He would stand up on a parapet to let a pow pow get turned on him & then coolly get down on the enemy’s side of the earth work & pick up the pieces of shell. On one occasion a shell was heard screaming over head[sic]. Hunter rushed to a rock & King thought that for the first time he had seen Hunter unwilling to face the music, but not a bit of it, he jumped up on the rock, tapped himself on <the> waist &

[[3]] said “now just watch it going to hit me in the Tummy”! It passed just over his head & burst behind him. Such a man does not know what fear means; the brave man is the man who experiencing[sic]  fear, yet has so much control that he never shows or exhibits it.

McMahon (who I have mentioned to you before) told me rather a characteristic tale the other day. During a recent march he invariably went to a Farm House for the night & had a bed there rather than sleep in the open. The people were always unfriendly to start with, but in one place they positively refused to let him in. Well he said it is no use your saying that for I am both going to eat & sleep here to night[sic] & if you dont[sic] admitted[sic] me of your free will I will force myself on you. They most unwillingly consented & he had dinner. Shortly they had a song then one sister (there were only the two sisters in the house) played while the other danced with McMahon & finally he danced with both in turn! Is it possible to imagine anything more funny, after the manner in which they received him. They had very little idea they were dancing with a Baronet. If you saw this on the London

[[4]] stage you would say what far fetched rubbish.

All the women in the Free State expected to be assaulted, a man at Brandfort sent his 15 yr old daughter away for safety to Lindley — & yet at this very place the hated “rooinek”[7] turned up & yet strange to say his daughter was not molested!

Lea[8] has a relation in the A.S.C[9]. I have never met him but quite by accident I heard he was here the other day. I at once went to try & find him, but he was out & the next day had gone. I was very sorry as I should very much like to meet him as you may imagine.

Another person who is here is Gibley’s Brother with the Australian Contingent, quite by accident I was discussing affairs with a colonial officer & hearing he came from Coolgardie[10] I asked him whether he knew a doctor of the name of G. Why he replied he is out here & named the station where he is just north of Kroonstad. I sent him a message by this fellow.

A fellow sat next to me for some time before I knew him to be an Australian V.S. he came over with one of the contingents & had just returned after Typhoid. He asked me whether I knew Stanley of Warwick.

[5 lines redacted]

[FS/2/2/4/2/22] (2)

[[1]] [3 lines redacted] hear something of some time ago, I believe they all turned out well medico’s, solicitors etc. She was a Governess in an [3 lines redacted]!

So you see its[sic] a small world, & yet all the world is here. It is very interesting to hear from other fellows who are a bit more in the ‘Know’ than I am so far as society is concerned, that if a chap turns up at any function unless he has lost a leg or arm or otherwise knocked about, the universal question is “Why are you not in South Africa” “What are you doing at home”.

Scores & Scores of men I learn on the best authority came out here for the reason that they got so tired of being asked the same question — Pirie[11] the M.P. was actually driven out by his constituents, hated it, but could not remain.
We made a good bag close to here the other day 4000 odd. King was with Hunter at the time & tells some funny tales about the surrender which you will hear some day. very[sic] indicative of the ‘Slim’ Boer. Finally King had to take the Boer ‘chief of the staff’ to see de Wet[12] & tell him that the surrender of Prinsloo’s force had occurred. The C of S was a man of the name

[[2]] Of Grobler. King says he was an absolute pig at the table & in addition he had to sleep in the same tent with him as Grobler was a prisoner of war on a special job. He saw him take the following mixture, boiled fowl two helpings on one plate over which he dolloped half a dozen sardines with plenty copious oil, at that moment raspberry jam was placed on the table & he seized it & actually put it over the sardines.

King says wherever he took him he had to apologise afterwards for his behaviour. They drove here from where the force surrendered & Grobler used to blow his nose in his fingers & wipe the latter on poor Kings travelling rug which they were using as a driving apron!!! Such are the manners, customs & civilization of some of the leading Boers! I’m not having any thank you at present; I was more put off by the rug story than the filthy mass the brute compounded for himself — I dont[sic] know why it is but I have no difficulty in getting

[FS/2/2/4/2/22] (3)

[[1]] [top half of page missing]

of them, they will be very interesting reading in the future. He has

 

I forgot to tell you that Theiler[13] knew me through my physiological work which is very gratifying — Mr Watkins-Pitchford a civil V.S. out here was shut up in Ladysmith, Theiler knew it & was very fond of Pitchfork[sic] so he tried to send him in some cigarettes but was not allowed, still it was very thoughtful of him & showed a nice spirit.

 

[Letter Incomplete – No Valediction.]  

(Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study the electronic images of this document where possible.)

(https://vethistory.rcvsknowledge.org//archive-collection/fs-working-papers/)

[1] Annotated with ‘3’, presumably the page number

[2] Smith was inspecting field veterinary hospitals and individual units across the region at this time

[3] Army Veterinary Department

[4] Veterinary Colonel Francis Duck (1845-1934)

[5] General Officer Commanding

[6] General Archibald Hunter (1856-1936), senior officer in British Army

[7] Rooinek = an English person or an English-speaking South African (used chiefly by Afrikaners).

[8] Arthur Sheridan Lea, physiologist (1853-1915)

[9] Army Service Corps

[10] Coolgardie, Western Australia

[11] Duncan Vernon Pirie (1858-1931)

[12] Christiaan Rudolf de Wet (1854 –1922) was a South African Boer general, rebel leader and politician.

[13] Arnold Theiler (1867-1936), veterinary scientist

Frederick Smith’s Official War Diary Book B – 22 Sep 1900 to 14 Jan 1901

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Frederick Smith’s Official War Diary Book C – 15 Jan 1901 to 26 Feb 1901

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Frederick Smith’s Official War Diary Book D – 27 Feb 1901 to 10 Jul 1901

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1 – Letter to Smith from Richard Crawshay, Useless Bay [Inutil Bay], Tierra del Fuego, [Chile], 29 Jan 1905

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Letter 1
FS/3/3/3/1 (1)
Useless Bay,
Tierra del Fuego,

29/1/1905

[[1]]

My Dear Smith,
It was a pleasure to have your letter of Oct. 24 about a fortnight ago.
How good you are in writing!
As I respond, I am wondering how I shall be able to acquit myself in this brief letter in giving you some fairly comprehensible account of my being & doing since last I wrote from the “Milton”.
Yet once again have I realised a complete upset to definite [1 word struck through illeg] plans — the outcome of too little knowledge of what lay ahead.
How curious are these such upheavals &

[[2]]

reversals in our lives!
Yet without where we have done our upmost in shaping a course, they cannot but be for the best — or at least be intended by providence for the best?
Until this reaches you, you will have believed me to be in Patagonia, whereas I am — as you will see — in Tierra del Fuego, still nearer the S. Pole.
On landing in Punto Arenas — in winter — the country proved completely [1 word struck through illeg] impassable in the severest winter [1 word struck through illeg] known since its occupation by history recording man.
There was no prospect of being able to penetrate it for 2 months.
I therefore crossed to Tierra del Fuego, to ‘put in’ time here — this being open: the N. it [1 word struck through illeg] of it at least has proved so splendid a field for [1 word struck through illeg] work that I have remained on, foregoing Patagonia altogether [.] Certainly, all things have worked for the best.

[[3]]

I am indeed thankful to have been driven to visit this weird remote [1 word struck through illeg] intensely fascinating land, so little comprehended by the world without — &, I am constrained to add, by its own people within.
How am I to condense the results achieved during 5 month’s [1 word struck through illeg] strenuous work — constantly on the move, & for the first part of my time in the face of nature’s elements which must be experienced to be adequately realized — I am afraid into [1 word struck through illeg] a brief letter?
I am afraid I cannot, so please take this will for the deed wherein I come short, though impelled by the best of intentions.
It did not take me many days in Fuego to grasp the fact that it’s [sic] largest & most interesting fauna are it’s [sic] Birds. I have therefore, directed my energies mainly to collecting these.
My species now number exactly 60 in

[[4]]

duplicate, triplicate, or more examples of some of them.
It would do your heart good to see the result of my labours — all done perforce by my own hand. It has been heavy work, [1 word struck through illeg] but there is [1 word struck through illeg] something solid to show for it.
There is not a single bad skin in all my 109 specimens.
All have been done with scrupulous care — often too under cruelly trying conditions.
Naturally you will like to hear something of them, in detail:-
In game birds I have 3 species: all Grouse — apparently: the largest weighs rather over 1lb: the smallest 2 ½ oz.! The smallest game Bird in the world I should think: smaller than any Bustard Quail I do not include in Game Birds either Snipe or Geese or Duck — all of which I have.
I have 2 sp. [species] Geese, & 5 of Duck — which are not all there are by any means, but all [1 word struck through illeg] I have been able to acquire.

[[5]]

The Most sensational birds I have — to me at least. are a tiny Reed Warbler no larger than a Bumble Bee, a tiny Black Wren from the depths of the forest at the entrance of Admiralty Sound, a tiny tiny owl from the forest weighing exactly 3 oz, probably the largest Bird of Prey in the island — an Eagle measuring 5ft 91/2 in from wing tip to wing tip, a tiny grey Titmouse — 3 examples from the forest & a black Oyster Catcher. All Birds mentioned by Darwin, these are particularly interesting for this reason: – In this connection I have The White faced Oyster Catcher [Haematopus leucopodus]. The little Pink legged Plover [Pleuvianellus sociabilis] — of both of which only the one example collected In 1838 exists in the B.M. [British Museum],

[[6]]

a Scarlet & Black Woodpecker [Symbol for male] & [Symbol for female], Nuthatch [symbol for male] & [Symbol for female] [Oxyyurus], & such common but highly idiosyncratic forms as the ‘Tero-Tero’ Plover, Two species of Starling, a Blackbird. & the curious little mound owl. In Eggs, I have [1 word struck through illeg] done a certain amount
— all indeed that has been possible.
Mammals are a very poor fauna indeed:-
I doubt if there are more than some 20 sp. [species] all told — land & Marine — In & around the Island. What I have are almost exclusively mainly Rodents including the very remarkable Stenomys (?) corresponding to the Tuko-Tuko of Patagonia.
The most interesting valuable acquisition [1 word struck through illeg] is probably a Bat from the forest at the mouth of

[[7]]

Rio McClelland to the S. of the Bay. This is the only one I have seen, & there are men in Fuego who have been here years who have never before seen a bat & who doubted their existence.
I shot my first Guanaco [Anchenia] on Aug 28th.
They are very curious creatures indeed worthy inhabitants of this extraordinary land.
Their thick soft close woolly fleeces are very nice and warm — like nothing else I have ever seen. I cannot say I care much for the flesh.
The stomachs of these animals sometimes contain very extraordinary stones.
I have 5 — 2 large, 3 small — taken from the stomach of an old [symbol for male], shot by a Mr E. C. Clarke who has very kindly given them to me [.]
The material results of my work in other ways have been collections of insects — Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, & Hymenoptera
*I have taken about 150 photos — how these will turn out I don’t know, as they have yet to be developed. Time exposes in the wind, & in forest light, are so difficult to judge R.C. [signature]
[[8]]

…almost exclusively. Earthworms & marine [1 word struck through illeg] fresh water, [1sp] & hard shells. Amongst Odds & ends. I have 3 examples of a Green Lizard.
Darwin I think found neither Lizards nor Earthworms??
Mine¬ has been altogether a most interesting time however hard in the face of [illegible] of conditions.
If I have a regret it is that I have not been able to do more than the work of one man.
My last achievement has been the ascent of Nose Peak at the entrance of admiralty sound.
I’ve never tackled a harder physical task in all my days.
Darwin pronounced this forest “impenetrable”. Practically speaking it is.
I leave for home — D.V — at the end of Feb or the beginning of March, when I hope we shall meet.
This I will address & to the W.O.[War Office] as I think you will be in England by the time this reaches there: if not, it will go on to you without delay.

[[9]]
[Rotated page 8]

I much appreciate your wise & timely remarks on the question of my visit to New York being deferred No! I do not think it will ever come off now. I am myself quite heart whole & philosophic, as becomes one of my age & experience of life; but the lady I can see plainly is much vexed with herself — & at first was furious with me. Any woman who controls my destinies to the extent of being a partner in marriage must take me for what I am & I know I am — a solid honest serious straight man who will not forego what he conceives to be his responsibilities in life for all this woman [and] whoever comes into this world if these cannot see life things from [anywhere?] near the same point of perspective… Do let me put you up for the Savile on my return? It is a club to suit you down to the ground, & the expense — after all — is
little??

[[10]]
[Rotated page 5 ]

With every good wish for you in 1905, yours most sincerely, Richard Crawshay. [signature]

P.S. Congratulations on your book being in type. It will form part of my little library, ere long. By this mail I see Fitzwygram has gone to join the ever increasing majority. What a personality he had!

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2 – Letter to Smith from Richard Crawshay, Melchbourne Vicarage, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, 19 Oct 1907

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Letter 2
FS/3/3/3/2
Melchbourne Vicarage,
Sharnbrook,
Bedfordshire,
19/10/07.

[[1]]

My Dear Smith,
Seeing your promotion, to quite the top of the tree, in the Gazette this morning, I am impelled to write and congratulate you: & yet, it is with a deep sense of regret — and shame — that I find myself doing so, after this long period of silence on my part!
This must have puzzled you, if you have had time to think of

[[2]]

any such fleeting acquaintance as myself, although I can only say that to me you have always appeared a friend — one of whom too, I often think, & never otherwise than kindly, even though I have not been able to maintain proper communications on paper: another thing, also, reminded me of you today in the report of the Desecration to Kruger’s grave, in the association with the account I had from you now years ago of the somewhat similar thing done to Prince Christian’s grave.
This long silence has been due to my “way of life” since my return

[[3]]

from Tiera del Fuego what with work at what has culminated in a great book (“The Birds of Tierra del Fuego”), & my dear Mother’s death occurring in the midst of this –completely paralysing me for a time — I have almost “gone under” as a member of the world in which I have hitherto lived.
Perhaps, you will understand? So many cannot! “He laughs at scars who never felt a wound” — I have never more thoroughly realized than in the course of the last 2 ½ years. Long since, your work has seen the light of day.
I remember all you told me — &

[[4]]

still more so all I saw — of your method of working at this. As for my own effort, it has almost been the end of me. But, if I may say so, the result is worthy of a whole life better than mine.
At the outset, I had no idea of attempting more than a paper for the P. Z. S., [Proceedings of the Zoological Society] on the “Ibis” (the organ of the British Ornithological Union). It then, worked into a book. Quaritch finally on taking on himself the whole cost of publication was so nice about it & so anxious to have a really handsome book that I set myself resolutely to work to achieve this; & the further I progressed the more I came to find to do, until really

[[5]]

there seemed to be no end to my task.
Briefly summed up, the book consists of an account of all species of birds collected & observed by me, embodying all I am able I to say myself together with everything I have been able to discover of interest or importance or written by others. This involved a lot of research in the libraries of the R.G.S, [Royal Geographical Society] Z.S [Zoological Society] & of the B.M [British Museum]
I have even investigated the records of such old-time voyages as Magellan (Magalhaens is his correct name), to take, Drake, Cavendish, Sarmiento, Hawkins, Narborough, De Bougainville, Cook, & of course

[[6]]

King’s Stokes & Fitzroy’s Survey of the “Adventure & “Beagle”: 1826 -1836 (in which Survey Darwin was naturalist from 1832-1836)
All later A– such as the “Astrolabe” & [“illegible”] Antarctic expedition, & the “Erebus” & “Terror” under Clarke Ross – I have also comprehended as far as I have been able to see my way.
The book has 21 hand-coloured plates by Keulemans (who is considered the best bird artist of the day, or stone at least), landscapes from my photos, a map (by Stranford) & an illustrated dedication. *
Tierra del Fuego being such a
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“To those who farthered me by the way” — R.C [signature]
[[7]]

unique & little-understood island, I thought it well to devote a lengthy preface to it — historically, physically, botanically & zoologically — divided up into the headings “Tierra del Fuego” “Flora”, “Fauna” & “Last Words”.
The introduction is brief & deals with the main subject of the book.
I hope to have a copy for you.* It has progressed towards publication as far as my having received, last week, a completely – sketched copy unbound.
I think the price will be about £3=10: perhaps more.
You will remember telling me how interested you are in such primitive races of man as the Onas? Well! I have written a good deal about the in the preface. I hope, too, that I shall be the means
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
* I take ’30: ‘ only 300 are issued. R.C [signature]
[[8]]

Of having them henceforth protected & not — deliberately exterminated — as hitherto.
Someday, ere I again go abroad — I think of another journey to the land of my last sojourn: people, too, press me to go — I hope to see you once more.
Right glad am I to see you promoted to your present position!
Doubtless, you will keep up touch with Todd.
Here, I am making my base with my brother, who is Chaplain — vicar to St John, The Lord-Lieutenant of this county. It is a nice quiet restful place with few neighbours & these all exceedingly friendly. There are, in fact, only three families anywhere near — the St Johns (who own the whole country) & two others closely related to them, I shoot — a bit — Partridge driving; where one sees something of the “complexities & unrealities of modern civilisation” about which I have written in my “Last Words” on Tierra

[[9]]
[rotated the first page of the letter]

Del Fuego. To the Old Great — Game Hunter, it is a credulous spectacle — & [illegible] — to see young men shooting in England — with their leaders & their [illegible] seats (On which they sit waiting for the birds) & cigarettes always in their mouths. However, though I shoot with them, I have none of this! With all best wishes!
Yours most sincerely,

Richard Crawshay [signature]

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3 – Letter to Smith from Richard Crawshay, Melchbourne Vicarage, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, 5 Nov 1907

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Letter 3

[FS/3/3/3/3]

Melchbourne Vicarage,

Sharnbrook,

5/11/07

My Dear Smith,

Your kindly words in appreciation of my work are indeed helpful & reassuring coming whence they do.

I hope the remainder of the book will also please you — & I think it will.

From Quaritch yesterday I received two specimen copies beautifully bound in [illegible]: All hand work. Of these I select one for use throughout as regards that number of copies which are to be thus expensively & handsomely ­bound, the remainder being bound in

[[2]]

What is known as “Roxburgh”, a sufficiently pleasing & serviceable binding for practical purposes, & one suited to those libraries & book collections who substitute their non-styles for those of the author & publisher. Tomorrow, I have to be in London to discuss matters with Quaritch, & I might be in town over 2 days — hardly can one return anyhow under that time.

It would be nice to see you & show you the book but it is almost more than I may be able to achieve besides you are yourself fully occupied. As to works on Anthropology, I do not for the moment recollect anything very official beyond ‘Tylor’s “Anthropology” which I seem to remember having sent you to Pretoria.

In writing the little note I did, on the ones, I did not consult any book —

[[3]]

beyond Washington Irving (whose words I quote). & Longfellow in “Hiawatha”. What one says is just one’s own impression received.

I wonder if you know Read [sic] the keeper of anthropology at the B.M (Bloomsbury) — there is no room for this section in the N.H.M, [Natural History Museum] South Kensington –? If not, you would find him a worthy addition to your acquaintances. He is very keen on his charge.

If he is now in town I will go & see him, & ask what books he can recommend.

He was greatly pleased with an Ona arrow

If you care for one, you are most welcome I need hardly add? Indeed, long since I remember — I think — having offered or promised you one. Certainly: I agree with you up to the hilt.

[[4]]

on hygiene in clothing (& in all other ways) not only as applied to equines but to all other creatures — man included.

Aye, truly! It must prove difficult for you to stem the stream of long — established practice, no matter how based on fallacy & misunderstanding & want of common sense.

But, in the end, there can be no question but what you will prevail.

Is not common sense now telling more & more in human hygiene, although only now that nature compels? Look at the “cures” which people are ordered to undergo, involving [illegible] to the most primitive methods of life known amongst mankind!

My more humble ideas I write, with pleasure, formulate [proper?] as best I can, for any purpose these may serve. It is a duty to do so, but, as you know I can only touch on veterinary science on the broad principle of what applies to all living creatures in a state of nature = common sense. Yours most sincerely Richard Crawshay. [signature]

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4 – Letter to Smith from Richard Crawshay, Melchbourne Vicarage, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, 14 Nov 1907

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Letter 4

[FS/3/3/3/4]

Melchbourne Vicarage,

Sharnbrook, S.O.,

Bedfordshire,

14/11/07

[[1]]

My dear Smith,

I was only too sorry no to be able to get to you during the three days I was in London: as almost always with me on these flying visits, I come away without having done many things which I had hoped to do.

I first do as much as I can — normally many things in many ways.

But I am glad to hear from you again: your letters are always comprehending — & sympathetic.

From Read I have heard this morning, & he sends me the enclosed note

[[2]]

of works on the Onas. He says: – “General treatises on anthropology naturally only mention accidental notes on a tribe like the Ona. The enclosed list will give your W. O. friend more to think about & give him the opportunity of ‘reading in Spanish, German & Swedish as well as English & French”

Looking through the references given, I am rather afraid that these after all may disappoint you.

To some you may not be able to obtain & access so readily anywhere as at the anthropological society, above the Z.S. [zoological society], at 3 Hanover square; & to some — Cork’s voyages — perhaps only at the B.M. [British Museum] — atthough I happen to know there is a copy in the Z.S. library.

[[3]]

In any case, I am sure Read will help you all he can & if you are able to make his acquaintance some time at the B.M. there he is “keeper of British & Medieval Antiquities & Ethnography.”

I have been reading your chapter on “Animal Heat” — twice  over — with all the intelligence I have at my command; & although of course — I am not [especially] advanced to take in all its detail, I smile — follow you in the main essentials ; & consider your point is proved to all understanding readers of open mind.

It is simply common sense.

Has it occurred to you, to get in the thin edge of your wedge into prejudice by experiment — to convince them by actual demonstration?

Reforms, & departures from old — established usage very often can only be effected in this way

[[4]]

for any good I can do, I will try to strike a parallel with the [horse] in man as illustrated by the Ona. First, however, I may do wisely to consult some leading work on human physiology — Michael Foster’s perhaps — is horrid committing oneself by starting from some wrong premise, although on broad lines what applies to man should apply to the horse. The Onas are extraordinarily hard-lived in their natural state, but die off like this in autumn if clothed & brought to live in buildings. This is an established fact: it is not more hypothesis.

Later I may have the pleasure of seeing you: perhaps a fortnights hence, what I expect be in London again!

About that time, I hope to have a copy of my book for you: binding by hand takes time.

Have you seen any notice of “Lost Birds” by Walter Rothschild?

I enclose the “morning point” review in case not

I rather expected he would be roughly handled,

[[5]]

[Rotated first page]

For I already knew what one of the greatest authorities thought of this book, & had myself seen it.

In the case of one bird — the Dodo – he greatly disappointed me. By his meagre account — a bird which is so especially rich in history: such quaint old monographs as there are of it.

Yours most sincerely

Richard Crawshay [signature]

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5 – Letter to Smith from Richard Crawshay, Melchbourne Vicarage, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, 3 Dec 1907

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The copyright of this material belongs to descendants of the creator. Images are permitted for reuse under a Creative Commons, Attribution, Non-commercial license.

Letter 5

[FS/3/3/3/5]

Melchbourne Vicarage,

Sharnbrook, S.O.,

Bedfordshire,

3/12/07

My Dear Smith,

A few lines or you may wonder how it is that I have not been to see you: also, your very kind work demands some response in the meantime  I have not yet again ‘been in’ London, but may  have to go there before the end of the week — or at latest the beginning of next.

various causes have accounted for my silence — not being over well for one thing! I have had a good deal

[[2]]

of low malarial fever of late. After the book work, I have been feeling a sort of collapse.

This and the many jars one reclaims by this way, tend to produce it. I shall be all right when once I can wander forth with the work.

How much I can sympathise with Buxton just now: more than ever I have before! It happens that when especially craving to wander, I am again reading his life — for the most part in bed. I am only now just up at 3-45pm. I was afraid that Read’s list of references to authorities on the anthropology of Tierra del Fuego would not prove of much use to you.

Thinking it now, it occurs to me that the work for you is “The

[[3]]

Surveying Voyages ‘Adventure ‘& Beagle’ 1826 – 1836, by King & Fitzroy! There are 3 volumes at least!*

I am very thoroughly conversant with the first two.

It is curious that so many people are only aware of Darwin’s naturalist’s voyage in the “Beagle” 1831 – 1836.

The survey itself is a much more thorough work in the southern most portion of S. America & Tierra del Fuego, & in it there are first rate notes on the aborigines — especially on this.

Alacalufs & Yashans: very little however on the Onas, for the very good reason that none of the ocean voyages has ever come in close contact with this tribe — they being [Landsmen?].

If you have difficulty in getting at a copy of the “Adventure” & “Beagle” Survey,–always provided you do not already know that work — I will take out the

______________________________________________________-

* Vol IV I believe is devoted to Darwin’s “Geology of S. America” R.C [signature]

[[4]]

R.G.S [Royal Geological Society] copy & let you have it. Your Ona arrow is not forgotten. The quiver is now hanging on the wall quite close to me. I will bring an arrow to hand on with me. It can hardly go through the port — unless in some officially made box. Forgive this writing: I am cramped by fever — its after effects.

Daily I hope for my copies of the book – to send you one. Quaritch’s Day “to the trade” is Dec 9th & I had hoped to have received my copies — or some of them — by the end of last week.

Yours most sincerely,

Richard Crawshay [signature]

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