Sir

I met y^r obliging favor here & shall be happy to receive y^r list of birds. I think you judge very right in sending me the descriptions, which may save much trouble, if there are no nondescripts. if there are I shall accept y^r kind offer, & you may depend on a safe return of them.

I am much obliged to you for the offer of the loan of drawings, which will be truly acceptable as to those of the Scotch subjects let me entreat you to send them with speed, as they will be great ornaments to my tour thro n. Britain which will go to the press in May. I also heartily wish for sketches of picturesque scenes of any parts I visited.¹

Y^r Shetland voyager & orkney friends will I hope enable you to explain to me the Bird Lyre, of which I have for years in vain expected an elucidation.

I must soon trouble you with another parcel for that worthy man M^r Brodie.

Excuse D^r Sir short Letters; for my time is fully taken up I cannot give anybody long ones. I hope you will write soon else Sir R. Mostyn will be gone into Flintshire.

I am with much esteem
y^r most obed^t Serv^t

Tho. Pennant.

London April 15th 1771.

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Editorial notes

1. As Pennant had not travelled with an artist (see his letter to George Paton on 21^st November 1779), he illustrated his Tour in Scotland in 1769 with plates engraved from views by Paul Sandby and William Tomkins.