John Curtis

“ I respect Newman and therefore regret that he has committed himself by writing a learned book with very little knowledge and with a good opinion of his work and a very moderate one of others as is evidenced when he says ‘no-one has thought on the subject’, excepting himself we may add. If he be not blinded by vanity and pursues his researches with the talent he possesses he will in a few years repent of his Sphinx vespiformis at least such is my opinion although at present it may be treason to say so. ”

“ I know not if I ever told you that I had undertaken to describe the insects collected in Captain King's survey of the Straits of Magellan, but they occupy some of my leisure moments and I have now got them into order and have labelled the whole so that I know from what place each specimen cameo Mr. Walker has kindly undertaken to describe the Diptera and I wish to ask you if you would like to undertake the Hymenoptera, there are not so many species, Ichneumonidae, ants, wasps and bees. ”

“ Newman to substitute my name, a liberty which I hope you will excuse. My notion respecting Tipula dispar was natural enough and not knowing the male I had no means of ascertaining that it was a distinct species and I am exceedingly pleased that you have proved the fact. Like most system-makers Mr. Newman has assumed a great deal, which like mortar in a stone -wall may make the most heterogenous masses unite until the true labourer comes when a single blow will knock it to pieces and show all its deformity. ”

“ I have much greater pleasure, indeed it fills me with sublime feelings to ascend a mountain and view as it were the world as we did from Scoat Fell and I would rather travel a thousand miles for such an hour as that than to cross the Thames to burrow into a cavern. ”

“ Kings insects I would write a monograph on the Neuroptera and Trichoptera. Mr. Templeton has been so good as to send me a few insects amongst them Phosphuga subrotundata which are so like our atrata that I think as mine you must have both species in Ireland, he also enclosed some of Dorthesia cataphracta, my onisciformis is stuck through with a pin which gives it London milk colour and it is very convex, but as I presume these are accidental it is no doubt the same as yours. Do you know the sexes, the male I have found is winged. ”

“ My Senegal collection is indeed a valuable and interesting one but it contained nothing but Coleoptera of which I have many duplicates and nothing would give me greater pleasure than adding to your friends collection in exchange for Hymenops and Coleops The genus Podagrion I have not. I have recd. some useful insects from Germany in exchange and have added a few New Holland and Java insects as well as some S. American. ”

“ I wish all entomologists were actuated by the same in print my willingness to forward to those engaged in science although there are men for whom I have certainly have put myself to inconvenience to serve indeed if it were not for about half a dozen men whom I do regard most sincerely I believe sometimes I would give up entomology altogether I meet with so little encouragement and so much vexation but I will turn from this unpleasant subject and answer your letter and before I do so let me ask you if you see the Annals de la Societe Ent. ”

“ I assure you one of the greatest pleasures in the progress of my great undertaking has been the associating my name with those whom I esteem and who like myself fare devote to the study of our branch of Natural History I may have only two more opportunities of thus gratifying myself and I shall be truly happy if they afford me the same unmixed pleasures as the present one does..... ”

“ I absolutely spent two days in looking over his collections which with French and extra - European insects is becoming very interesting. For my own part I want the days to be doubled and my own life to equal that of the Patriarch to get through with my numerous engagements, for my correspondents are daily increasing and I fear from their not knowing what it is to be engaged in a Periodical Work that they feel themselves neglected. ”

“ It is indeed a land flowing with wine and oil if not with milk and honey. The sandy districts about Marseilles produce some fine Coleoptera and a vast number of Hymenoptera, especially Formicidae, Bombicidae and Sapyga, a great many Neuroptera, Ascalaphi, Myrmeleon, very large Cicade and many types of Genera perfectly African. ”

“ I trust however this will not deter you from sending me information which will be thankfully received and made the best use of in my power. I anticipated the pleasure of adding a new species (to Britain) of Dolichopus to your cabinet but I see you have it. ”

“ I have not had time to look over my Essex and Irish boxes at present but I don't doubt I shall find many small insects to put into my cabinet although our little success in Ireland is really astonishing when one considers the extent of country we passed over and I cannot help thinking that we should have done more if we had been earlier and had been on the coast next the open sea for Roundstone I found decidedly the best place but it was ten rather late and having been rendered hours de combat I have little to show in proof of my assertion. ”

“ I feel greatly indebted to you for your kind invitation but I do not see how it will be possible for me to visit the North of Ireland this year but I hope it may be the means of giving me the pleasure of meeting you again before many years are over, for I should enjoy looking over your cabinet with you..... Many thanks for the names of plants, - any localities will be useful I have got some from Lady Blake and Dale which I believe are accurate. ”

“ Tell me if you please if you think it is of that genus as I should like to publish it, I send two imperfect ones which they all are excepting my Cabinet specimens, they were on the lid of a box and someone opened it arelessly and broke the whole row: it seems to be very rare the female is like the male excepting the pointed abdomen 11 Tephritis marginata 12 T. sonchi. There follow 2 Diptera and 5 dissections you were so kind as to lend me. Your oval box contains the insects you wished to examine. ”

“ I think there can be no doubt that France is the most powerful nation in Europe with the means of doubling her strength and importance if she were disposed to enter as deeply into commerce as this country. ”

“ I am extremely obliged to you for the Ichneumonidae which I shall place in my cabinet, 2 or 3 of these are valuable acquisitions and I will send you a few insects which I hope will prove acceptable. Will you be kind enough to look again at your Lucina fasciata for I fear it is not that genus and if not what is it? Dale and Walker were much pleased with their insects, I sent 20 species to the former and 11 to the latter Gent: and Mr. ”

“ I am ashamed of the bad use I sometimes make of the valuable materials you have so often been so kind as to place in my hands - unfortunately the greater portion of the subscribers to BE want large and handsome insects that it requires some contrivance to cater for all. ”

“ I have just received some fine insects from Peru but no Hymenoptera, also interesting insects from Thebes, Greece, Italy and Colombia and an Ent tract from New Harmony, Indiana . Hope you are enjoying good health and have been able to devote some leisure to enty. and that I may ere long have the pleasure of hearing from you. ”

“ Rudds conduct that he silenced him by saying ‘I wish Curtis were here to speak for himself’ and it was curious enough that I entered the room before the party broke up, I am the last Man in the World to embarass science by petty factions or to dictate to my friends but as men behave so will I speak of them. ”

“ I suppose. Thanks for the additions to my Guide, I have only had time to examine the- and Pompili at present. You will see in my addenda appended to the last number of B.E. what has happened respecting Helcomyza ustulata and it only proves how dangerous it is to supply names to insects unpublished and undescribed especially without knowing the author. On referring to my 5th volume of Meigen I see under actora I had written in pencil Helcomyza? but my genus was published two years before I have recieved that volume therefore it is not my error although my work is blemished and suffers by it. ”

“ Templeton’s report is, even if they were large handsome insects generally, principally Coleops and Lepidops if I could afford it I should way more, but I find the richest naturalists the most stingy, I can never find any one who will even go halves with me in a collection unless it is so cheap that I can take it all myself, this is to be regretted for the consequence is that we have only the leavings of other Nations 9 times out of 10. ”

“ J. Curtis to A.H,H, written 29th Feb. 1832 posted March 3rd 1832 I know not how to thank you for the trouble you have taken and the invaluable additions you have made to my cabinet, I can only hope that they will not be ill bestowed and although I cannot publish as many as I would wish in BE I hope some other opportunity will offer to make more of your valuable researches of use to the entomological student. ”

“ I hope however that the year after the next we may meet at Dublin, for nothing but bad health and an empty purse shall prevent me that pleasure. (absent in East Anglia) . I had hoped to find a few lines from you to tell me you were well and unluckily Mr. Templeton and a friend had called during my absence so that I did not even hear of you. ..... I believe the only prizes I have taken are Dasytes Filiformis, a new Chalcis and a new plume moth. I have however some insects in a box for you and also some from Mr. ”

“ I have carefully looked through my boxes and cannot find the insect from the Ageilegia but have sent you one from a card at the top of the genus Encyrtus, which I hope may be what you want, it is Microma latipennis. ”

“ All this I should put a stop to at once ‘for those that fetch can carry’ and I believe him to be only a spy and it is difficult for a man publishing a periodical work to act as independently as he would wish at all times, indeed he must not make enemies for this very man once at Dale's table denied my work and eulogised Stephen's so much that Dale says he convinced his friend declined taking the BE and he felt so hurt at Mr. ”

“ Templeton. The mahogany box is filled with the S.American insects. I have put a number on each ticket thinking it might save you trouble. What a beautiful thing No.9 is No.20 I fear is figured? & look out for it 21 Dorylus ns. 26 I bought a specimen, do you wish for one? is not 27 a faded one of the same. 34 is my specimen and as it was given to me by Lieut. ”