Kennicott Documents

What can I say for there have ever excuse their faithlessness to freed our -

But let us not be discouraged we triumphed over the enlightened (?) [illegible] of Boston in spite of State Street. Even [illegible] Street voted for Fremont and [illegible] So will you yet triumph over your Egypt.

In haste yours truly Thomas M Brewer

The Grove Nov 30^th 1856

Dear Bob.

I received your letter one day last week but have been too busy to write since.

We have got the "study" all fixed up. we hope to have a teacher soon. have you heard any thing about one? We have not.

The boys have been very busy diging drains and taking up apple scalings.

The little boys have not got any mice yet and I am afraid they will not. Ira got four but they got away. befor he had them long.

Uncle Will and Aunt Carrie were over last night to inspect the "new house" Uncle Will thinks there is no use in having a nice house and furniture with such a "set" of boys as your Father has got

they will ruin evry thing in less then a month he is sure. when he was over last sundy he sat with his feet on the [illegible] for two hours or more. but he had forgotten all about that last night.

Aunt Carrie peeps into all the closets to see if they are swept "once a week" according to suit. she wonders how Mary can be so extravigant as to use a gallon of molasses in one week. The Old house looks very desolate it makes me feel sad every time I go into it.

I moved all your things myself up into your new "den" all excep those that were in your old den. those I left just as they were.

have you seen Annie yet? I wish if you get time you would call and see her. it is no more then right that you should. find out the number of her box and I

will write to her.

Dont you find it to long a walk up to [Post?] Andrew??

We shall hope to see you next saturday.

We are all well

Your loving sister Alice.

[printed] No. [written] 1383 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. [handwritten] November 30. 1856

My Dear Robert,

The box of animals came safely to hand a few days ago. One or two were dead, among them one Mus Michiganenses. The rest are quite lively.

The Arvicolae are all A. austerus, except one allied to A. riparius and which may be this species. The Snakes, Sal. amanders & turtles were all in good condition. These I sent to the Biological Society of London, as I was just then making up a box for it. They came exactly in time.

Your article is to be on the animals of Illinois in which the agriculturalist is interested. Never mind about species of the South, east & west, which do not belong to

[page turned, stamped on left side] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections

Illinois. I enclose a memorandum of some of the species. You need specially to mention. Many of them can be grouped in a general expression of their being now so rare that whatever they may have been once, they now need scarcely any notice, such as bear, great wolf, Panther, wild cat, &c. The weasels may be referred to generally as having carnivore habits of destroying poultry &c. and then give any specific mention you may have of abiding places, & other peculiarities of skunks, weasels, one or two, & mink. If possums carry off chickens say so. The shrews may be spoken of generally as beneficial by insectivorous habits: the moles do but as spoiling the symmetry of lawns &c. If deer eat buckwheat, & grain, mention this. But lay your chief strength out on the rodents.

It is not worthwhile to lay out your strength on systematic classification. Take the species as mentioned in Aud. & Bach. Dont

[printed] No. [written] 1383 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, [written] 2 [printed] Washington, D. C.

[handwritten] Sorex. short tailed Long tailed Scalops Condyliora Ursus americanus Procyon Meles Mephitis Mustela Putorius ermine. mink. Great wolf Prairie wolf Red Fox Gray " Panther Wild Cat. 2 species? Possum. Fox Squirrel gray " Black " Little red, Ground squirrel. (Tamius) Spermophilus Franklinii tridiumlineatus Aritomys monax Pseudostoma bursarius Mus leucofur. michiganensis Tiber zibelhicus Arvicola Hystrix Lepus Cervus

1383 take family heads. Give only heads of genera, under which give general remarks; then each species Thus Sciurus[triple underline] (Full capitals) [3 wavy lines]

Scuirus rubucaudatus[double underline] (Small capitals)

Where you borrow from Aud. & Bach. it is well to mention source of information. As of Buffalo calves crossing rivers on mothers backs" ! You thus avoid being held responsible for a startling statement

Keep an account of expenses in way of bribes for animals &c. I will try and get the Patent office to pay these. At any rate you shall not do it out of your pocket. I will see it refunded.

Please enquire of the express Co. what they will ask to bring on the Prairie Wolf. Call it a dog, which it is. It would have to come in a box, and be fed occasionally. I would like it exceedingly, if not too expensive to transport.

Give the habits of the Rodents as minutely as you can. The article can be reduced if too large. Bats may be lumped as insectivorous beasts with leather wings that fly out at night and catch mosquitoes & the like!

Yours ever S F Baird

Robt. Kennicott Chicago

[circled] 25

Monday Dec. 1^st '56

Dear Bob,

I think I forgot to answer your query about Dwarf trees - We have a good but[?] of Dwarf Pears, but do not intend to sell them for nothing - I suppose we could deliver in Chicago for $35. per 100 - one year old - though we don't wish to sell by the hundred, any way - We have some old Dwarfs of all sorts of prices, from 50 cts to $5. each - We have not over 50 Dwarf apples to sell - We could order them, tomorrow.

I have been quite "off the hooks" these last two days - the smoky chimneys are death on my [illegible], and my time too - for by the time I can get a fire to burn clear, I am done up. I can't write -

Mother sent you a satchel of clothes my [illegible], this morn.

Let us know when you intend to come out - By the way, tho' we shall want to see you, I cant advise your coming home often unless you can meet a chance to come without expense -

When I can do it without say=ing too much much, I shall write [illegible] about the chim=neys - He has [illegible] the house. I presume Charlie will go in by & by & busy [illegible] - There is no other way, as I see - unless we pull down the chimneys (or rather flues of fireplaces) and rebuild them -

I have another letter from Lapham - I am to have the catalogue of plants - but let the Historical Society see it, before you bring it out here -

Old Father"