Documento RB/7/5/3 - Copies of Correspondence concerning the Acquisition of the Consular Hat and Stick

These are copies of letter from The National Archives of correspondence concerning the deposit of Richard Burton's consular hat and the walking stick presented by the King of Dahomey. They are:

• Letter from W.J. Sullivan, British Political Adviser to the Commander, Trieste, to Foreign Office Library asking for their advice on a suitable place for disposal of the stick and hat. Typed, dated 23 June 1949
• Letter from S.H. Gellatly, Foreign Office to W.J. Sullivan suggesting that the items are deposited with the Royal Asiatic Society as the Society holds annual Burton Memorial Lectures. Typed, dated 18 July 1949
• Letter from W.J. Sullivan to S.H. Gellatly to inform that he was despatching the items in two parcels by non-confidential bag. Typed, dated 29 July 1949
• Letter from E.J. Passant, Foreign Office, to The Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask if they would like the hat and stick. Typed, dated 11 August 1949 (see RB/7/5/1)
• Letter from E.J. Passant to the Secretary, RAS, to ask again concerning the Burton items. Typed, dated 20 September 1949.
• Letter from M. Davis, Secretary, RAS, to E.J. Passant apologizing for not replying - the Society had been closed for holidays during August. The letter states that the Council would be delighted to own the items and to display then at the Burton Memorial Lectures. Handwritten, dated 22 September 1949.
• Letter from Foreign Office to M. Davies, Secretary, RAS, to send the hat and stick and ask for acknowledgement of receipt. Typed, dated 29 September 1949.
• Letter from Richard Winstedt, President, RAS, to Foreign Office to offer thanks on behalf of the Society for the gift of the hat and stick. Handwritten, dated 30 September 1949
• Letter from S.H. Gellatly to W.J. Sullivan to inform him that the hat and stick have been deposited with the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 11 October 1949.
• Copy of an email from Tony Stockwell, Vice-President RAS, to Alison Ohta, Director RAS, and Kathy Lazenblatt, Librarian RAS, to inform about the files that he has found at the National Archives concerning the Burton hat and stick, dated 17 August 2013.