Autograph letter signed by botanist James Britten dated 1896

BRITTEN, James (1846-1924). Autograph Letter Signed, 6 December 1896.
 
Single sheet folded to four pages (approx. 180 x 115 mm) on printed Nature Notes, The Selborne Society's Magazine headed paper, completed in black ink over all four sides. Light horizontal fold marks from posting, a few tiny marginal nicks and pinholes, otherwise in very good condition.
 
An editorial letter written whilst serving as editor of Nature Notes. Britten apologises for delaying publication of the recipient's article, explaining that the circumstances required exceptional treatment because the allegations concerning "the leeches" had demanded careful investigation before appearing in print. He writes that the case "had exercised considerable care in investigating the charges regarding the leeches" and states that the article will be published only if the recipient is willing to accept justification for any statements not supported by evidence. Britten concludes that he has no wish to publish anything untrue and rejects any suggestion that he had deliberately delayed the contribution, remarking that accusations of exaggeration had previously been directed towards him.
 
James Britten spent much of his career at the British Museum (Natural History), becoming one of the foremost authorities on British botany and editor of numerous scientific and natural history publications. As editor of Nature Notes, the journal of the Selborne Society, he was closely involved in maintaining standards of evidence within the growing community of amateur and professional naturalists. An interesting editorial letter and rare thus.