I think,—indeed I do not think, I am sure,—that if Jumbo had been our purchase from you, and letters had been sent to us, telling of the sorrow of American children at parting with an old favorite, every English girl and boy, man and woman, would have said with one voice, that the purchase-money should be given back, and the animal left to delight the children across the Atlantic. I am sure the wish of possessing the finest animal would not have crushed our manly and womanly feelings—and those of all true men and women are generously in sympathy with the cry of children in distress. You say that perhaps Jumbo will return to us after you have exhibited him. I am afraid he will not be alive to come, or, if he is, all his trust in his old friends and keepers will be soured, and he will not seem like the old friend he now is. You may think it a waste of time for a young girl to write to you, when older and wiser heads have failed; but I must tell you of the thousands of children to whom the parting from Jumbo will be a terrible grief. Be to us the generous-hearted man you are believed to be, and give us back our Jumbo. I remain, yours truly, A YOUNG ENGLISH GIRL. The ninety pupils of a school in the Edgeware road memorialized the secretary of the London Zoo, who replied to them thus:— ZOÖLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 11 HANOVER SQUARE, W., March 2, 1882. DEAR FRIENDS,—Your petition has been duly received, but I fear we shall not be able to assent to your request. We must ask you to believe that our experienced superintendent knows better what elephants are suitable to be kept in the Society’s Gardens than you do. There are still three elephants left in the gardens, upon which we hope you will have many rides in future. Yours faithfully, P. S. SCLATER, _Secretary to the Society_. _To MISS E. V. NICHOLS and her companions._