Bath, August 1st.
A lady having read in The Times a Bee-master's letter of the 27th July, on "Hives," would feel greatly obliged if he would inform her where the Ayrshire hexagonal hive is to be had, its price, and likewise the cost of setting up the establishment with one hive to commence with; where to obtain the best bees, and how many are necessary; and the time to commence keeping them. Would a book on Bees be of much use to a beginner! An answer will be esteemed a great favour, if not entailing too much trouble on the "Bee-master."
For Ayrshire hive, write to "Mr. Bruce Taylor, Post-office, Mauchlin, Ayrshire, N.B."
Brighton, August 3rd.
Sir,—I have just been reading your excellent and interesting letter in The Times of this morning, and am induced to write you a second letter, having despatched one to you last week, soliciting you to be kind enough to reply to my queries and inquiries therein contained, and not having received any reply thereto. I can readily imagine you could not answer all your correspondents, and that your letters in The Times would contain the information that most of them sought. Although I have perused them with the greatest pleasure, I do not find they tell me whether you would be kind enough to sell me any of the virgin honey which your bees have made this year, which was the principal point I wished to have solved in my former communication. I am quite sure you are a gentleman of position, and from your language I am inclined to believe are a member of the clerical profession; and as I am unwilling to trespass unreasonably on your valuable time, I do earnestly beg, if you are unable or unwilling to sell me any of your virgin honey of 1864, you would be so truly obliging as to furnish me with the name and address of some respectable party in your locality or neighbourhood, on whom I could depend to purchase what I might require. I never eat "rancid London," or indeed any "butter for breakfast," or any other meal, and am not fond of "nasty greasy bacon;" but as I cannot find any substitute of which I approve but pure "virgin honey," and know not where I can procure and purchase the latter from the "grower," I am constantly obliged to eat my dry toast and bread without any agreeable addition thereto. I am exceedingly desirous to cultivate a good temper and "sweet disposition;" and if you would kindly aid me in this by supplying my "honeyed requirements," or inform me where I can purchase what I wish for, I shall be most grateful for your reply, if it contain only the name and address of some respectable person to whom I can make application for the "pure, unadulterated, virgin honey of 1864," and for which purpose I enclose you a stamped envelope.
Hoping you will oblige me, and apologising for trespassing on your valuable time,
I remain, yours most obediently,
E. L. B.
Pure honey, taken by deprivation, and in the most charming white wax cells, may be had of Neighbour, in Holborn, London.