1833. be paid to him. You will have the goodness to instruct your agent in London to call upon him at the Mint for the pieces at the proper time.

"I am pleased that you are thus enabled to continue your collection of coins, and regret that at any time you should have experienced a difficulty; but you know we must all be subject to the higher powers, and cannot always meet the wishes of our friends.

"I return you my thanks for your good wishes at this season, and beg you will accept the same for yourself and Lady Thomason, to whom you will be so good as to present my compliments.

"My vanity is much gratified by having an opportunity of admiring the skill which your art has exercised on a very unworthy subject, and am not less obliged by your kindness in sending me so splendid a token of your regard. To wish that the subject were worthy of the artist would be to no purpose, so I must content myself with hoping that the artist will soon find a subject more worthy of his graver.

"I have taken the liberty to request that my friend, Mr. Constable, would send you some volumes of poetry, of which I beg your acceptance; they are so numerous, that I fear the head which you have interested, so far as the outside is concerned, is sadly impoverished by its prodigal expense of labour.

"Edward Thomason, Esq., Birmingham."

"Dear Sir,

66

London, January 30, 1833.

"We have the pleasure of giving this line of introduction to you in favour of the celebrated Doctor Clot Bey, the individual who has acquired so much credit and distinction by the talent he has exhibited in establishing in Egypt an extensive public school of medicine and surgery, under the immediate auspices of the enlightened ruler of that country; who, in acknowledgement of the Doctor's merits, has conferred upon him the title of Bey, with the rank of Colonel, being the first instance of a Christian who had not renounced his religion having been created a Bey. Being a man of great intelligence, he cannot fail of being highly interested in going over your extensive establishment.

"The Bey will be accompanied by our partner, Mr. Shenburn, who has already the pleasure of being known to you; and, recommending them both to your obliging attentions, we are very truly,

"Dear Sir,

"Your obedient humble servants,

Friggs Therburn of

"To Sir Edward Thomason, Birmingham."

1833.

"Sir,

"Devonshire Street, Jan. 30, 1833.

"I am favoured with your letter, and I assure you I feel myself honoured by your application.

"The only channel through which there is any chance of being able to transmit your interesting present to the Emperor of China is through the medium of the accredited agents of the East India Company at Canton. If you feel disposed to apply to the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London on the subject, I cannot doubt but they would readily undertake the transmission of your present to their servants in China, and give them the requisite instructions to use every diligence in their power to effect its transmission to the hands of the Emperor.

"I shall be happy to write myself to the Chairman in ́ London, and to the President of our establishment at Canton, with a view to facilitate, as far as may be in my power, the object you have in view. At the same time, I am bound to forewarn you that the Chinese are so singular a people, and their government so absurdly jealous upon certain points, that it is very possible that the Viceroy of Canton may refuse to forward your present to Pekin; in which case there can be no other alternative but to return it to England.

"I must likewise confess that, although the Chinese are undoubtedly, on the whole, a very civilized people, I do not think they are sufficiently enlightened fully and duly to appreciate the value of your present; yet I would by no means discourage you from the patriotic wish you entertain to place so beautiful and interesting a specimen of British art in the hands of the Chinese monarch.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.,