Mr. Joseph Tarn
London 14th Jan. 1831
My Dear Sir
I received your note of the 12th and the enclosures, and was a little taken by surprise to find myself charged with the four sets of versions sent out to me to Mexico. The truth is, I received these four sets of versions, and held them, in the same manner I did all the books I received from the Society, considering them as theirs and not mine. In consequence of this I placed them entire in the hands of Dr. Mora for sale as soon as they arrived, as he thought he could easily dispose of them. The Extract from the Minutes which you have sent reminds me however that I had requested one of these versions for myself to replace the one taken by Mr. Salazar, and on referring to the copy of the letter mentioned I find this to be the case.
I know not how the knowledge of this has escaped me at the time I received these books; and indeed ever since that time until your note came into my hands I have been under the impression that these books like all the others were the Society's property. But in this understanding of the matter I find that I am wrong. If however the sub-committee can take off me this burden, if it can be done, I shall consider it a particular favour, under the consideration that they were left in Mexico believing them to be the Society's property, and that now it would be very inconvenient to me and expensive to have them sent to me in London. But if this can not be done, I must be answerable for the charge on this one set.
Respecting the other three sets I do not exactly see why they should be charged to my private account more than all the other books sent me to dispose of for the Society.
Be so good as lay this matter before the Sub-committee in question, and advise me of the result.
I remain Dear Sir
Truly Yours
James Thomson.