Description

Description: In this autograph letter signed William Wavell asks the (unnamed) recipient if he could entrust anyone in London with specimens–possibly of silver-lead–he has procured from the Beeralston (or Bere Alston) mines or if he should wait to send them to him.

“My dear Sir,

I have received from Mr. Shillibeer the Papers you had the kindness to send by him-they were forwarded by him from Cornwall. I beg you will accept my best thanks.

I wrote to you some time since in a Frank from Lord Morsley as it was during the coronation when I doubt not you were in London. I fear you never received it, it was to inform you that I had procured some specimens from the Beeralston Mines–& to request you would have the kindness to inform me with whom to I could leave them in a safe hand in London, to be conveyed from thence to you–or whither I wait a direct conveyance from hence by some students.

With respectful comp[liments] to your Lady–

I am my dear Sir/Very faithfully yours/Wm Wavell.”

Two pages handwritten on a sheet of 9” x  7 ¼”  ivory paper dated: “Sept. 1st, 1821”.  Item #A01833

Dr. William Wavell (1750-1829) was a surgeon, naturalist, and geologist. His specimen of the mineral “wavellite” was the first to be documented in London in 1805, hence the eponym.

Condition: Mailing fold lines and a 1” stain in the center (still can read the text), otherwise good condition and quite readable.