Kennicott Documents

Racine Sept. 13 - 1856

Dear Bob

Glad you are going in for the Silver Spoons and forks your mother – that’s right – You say you have been worked half to death this summer, all I can say is that at least there have been two of us – I have had but little time to devote to Nat. History yet I have managed to secure a fine lot of moths and beetles –

The Geraboa is (Gerbillus Canadensis. Derm.) In latter days the Generic name has been changed to Marcina. If I mistake not, this is of but little consequence – Cant they jump! -

I cannot put my hands on your list of eggs or I would indicate such as I wish – Cant you make out another yet when you have rare eggs -

and only two of the kind I will yeald to Dr Brewer – but dont send him more than one when you have three – I can furnish you with many of our eggs.

If possible I will be at Alton - yet at this time the prospect looks rather dark – I have just received a letter from Prof. Kirtland inviting us to visit him on the occasion of the Ohio St. Fair at Cleveland. Sorry we cant go.

I have never known of any one being killed by the bite of the C. [illegible] and I doubt the story of Prof. Daniels for I never heard a word of such an occurrance – I knew a lady who was Enciente at the time of being bitten by the rattle snake – She aborted on consequence and died from uterine haemorage. So the bite was the exerting cause or rather the remote cause of her death.

I have never found Hyla Pickeringi in Wis. – doubt much whether it will be found,

Cant you come to Racine this fall with your sisters –

I have a fine lot of German insect pins. They are far superior to the French pins –

You Did right in recommending Mr Laurence to write to me – if you write again to him say that you speak from authority, that I will answer –

Mrs Hoy unites in sending compliments

Yours Truly P. R. Hoy

Dr. R. Kennicott

PS. Keep for me one of the eggs of the short eared owl – and one of the Phalerope. eggs – sure -

New York 18. Sep. 1856

Mr. R. Kennicott

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 7" was rec^d. in due time. I am much obliged for the very desirable eggs you have put up for me & hope to receive them in good condition. Next spring I shall probably embrace your offer to furnish others. Let me know when you are ready for some birds & the kinds youd most desire. Reptiles I have paid no attention to. I had a few skins of Mammals but they were carried off by Prof. Baird last fall.

I trust you will succeed in your efforts to get up a N.H. Society in Chicago - I have sent by this mail a copy of the Bye Laws &c of the N.Y. Lyceum. I shall write to D^r. Hoy soon & would have done so before this, but felt backward about it, being a perfect stranger - I have always thought there should exist a sort of Freemasonry among

Naturalists, which would authorize them to ask information of each other.

I enclose the Insect pins of the sizes you wish, they are sold @ 1.75 p. thousand, 600 are now sent.

I can give you all the information desired about Glass Jars, Cork &c - Prof. Baird I beleive considers me cheif "Commissioner of supplies" for all such matters, as I procured all the things requisite for the different Expeditions & Surveys, at his request. At the Smithsonian they use Glass stop^d. Wide mouth bottles of German make, as they come cheap & the stoppers are well ground. The prices from the Importer, are as follows, 1/2 Gall $3 p. Dozen Qnt. 1.75 Pt. 1.20 1/2 Pt. 90 ^cts - 1/4 Pt. 80 ^cts. Nt. prices. Any quantity you wish, I will procure for you, & forward to the care of some of the Chicago Druggists, to whom I frequently send goods.

I find Cork cut for Insect Cases is not so thick as you name, it is say, 1/8" of an inch, which is thought sufficient, it is in flat sheets of 12 x 3 inches, as it is easily cut, it can be adjusted & secured to the bottom of a case, & then being covered with white paper, will have a smooth & uniform surface; - the price for this size is 62 1/2 ^cts for a Dozen peices, I could find some larger.

I will be glad to receive the promised Transactions, & will present one to the Lyceum in your name. It would give me pleasure to visit your State on the occasion of your Annual Fair, but I could not spare the time this year, I would like very much also, to have a chance at the Prairie Hens, but it is almost too far, "to go a shooting". I am not aware that any one here has paid attention to the Spiders, if I learn of any person being interested in them, will let you know.

Yours truly Geo. N Lawrence -

Geo N Lawrence

Boston Sept. 22nd

Robert Kennicott Esq

Dear Sir

Your esteemed favor was received last week, when I was unusually pressed for time both by my business and by the preparation necessary for the remov al of my little family back to winter quar ters. Your letter was accidentally mislaid and I will now try to answer it from recollection of its contents.

It was certainly a great omission on my part to neglect to say how choice and valuable would be the eggs of the Wilson's Ope larope. I have never seen but a single specimen and that by no means a good or well authenticated one. Of course all you can spare me would be most acceptable, but in so doing you must not rob yourself or those of your friends you wish to oblige. If I can as well as not have two good specimens I certainly shall take great satisfaction in receiving them as well as in placing them in my cabinet.

I have spoken to our mailman to change the addres of the Atlas

I hope after this you will receive it regularly.

I fear it will be quite out of my power to visit Illinois this season. There is no point of our wide Union I would more care to see and the time, I trust, will soon come when I may find the leisure to do so, but the prospect is as yet dim and shadowy.

About sending me the eggs pray take your own time. I am in no haste to have them, certainly not until you can make it perfectly convenient to transmit them.

Racine Oct 4 - 1856.

Dear Bob.

I had thought to see you at the Fair and thus answer your letter personally - but all things human are uncertain – says the preacher – and so I found my self with sick patients on my hands that I could not possibly leave. - I would not have missed the fair for a cool 100 - if that sum could have made all things straight.

I hope the fair passed off more to your liking than the Chicago affair did, that is in the department of Nat History – I am greatly anxious to learn all about it – Did you carry off the premium Spoons for your Mother?

Did Dr. Brendle take that Crane to the Fair? I am much interested to learn all about the specimen – let me know all you can about it?