1

Dear Sir,
Yours of the 3rd last was rec'd a day or two
since - Did our friend Cistuda Blandingii arrive in
good spirits?
As to your proposal About I am much pleased and
grateful to find you take enough interest in me to ask
Doct Holbrook to give me his book; and I fully appreciate
your kindness in doing so. But at the same time I cannot
accept it as payment for making Doct Holbrook collections
I will give you my reasons - I have perhaps already
told you that inasmuch as I cannot at present gain much
credit as a scientific naturalist - it is my wish to
do what I can for the advancement of Natural History
by assisting others good naturalists till such time
as I can - Providence permitting - take a place amoung you
savants. - Now suppose I should even be of great
assistance to Doct Holbrook, I would be deserving of
little credit if I did it as hired man Naturalist
whereas if I did it out of my own desire to advance [last 3 words underlined]
the science, I would know at least that I deserve [underlined]
the credit whether I got [underlined] it or no - Do you under-
stand and appreciate my motive? I have just
sent Doct Holbrook a suite of reptiles and intend
to send him what I can next year (that is where I can
without spoiling Prof Bairds suits). [3 illegible words inserted above]] Nor will the fact
of your offering me the book make any difference
except by its showing me that what I collect may
be of value and thus urging me to make larger collections
for both himself and Prof Baird - As I have
already said I intend anyway ^{[illegible] [illegible] [illegible]}to get Doct Hollbrook a
suite of reptiles - and find if he wants them, [illegible] [illegible due to fold in page]

Dear Sir,
Yours of the 3rd last was rec'd a day or two
since - Did our friend Cistuda Blandingii arrive in
good spirits?
As to your proposal About I am much pleased and
grateful to find you take enough interest in me to ask
Doct Holbrook to give me his book; and I fully appreciate
your kindness in doing so. But at the same time I cannot
accept it as payment for making Doct Holbrook collections
I will give you my reasons - I have perhaps already
told you that inasmuch as I cannot at present gain much
credit as a scientific naturalist - it is my wish to
do what I can for the advancement of Natural History
by assisting others good naturalists till such time
as I can - Providence permitting - take a place amoung you
savants. - Now suppose I should even be of great
assistance to Doct Holbrook, I would be deserving of
little credit if I did it as hired man Naturalist
whereas if I did it out of my own desire to advance [last 3 words underlined]
the science, I would know at least that I deserve [underlined]
the credit whether I got [underlined] it or no - Do you under-
stand and appreciate my motive? I have just
sent Doct Holbrook a suite of reptiles and intend
to send him what I can next year (that is where I can
without spoiling Prof Bairds suits). [3 illegible words inserted above]] Nor will the fact
of your offering me the book make any difference
except by its showing me that what I collect may
be of value and thus urging me to make larger collections
for both himself and Prof Baird - As I have
already said I intend anyway ^{[illegible] [illegible] [illegible]}to get Doct Hollbrook a
suite of reptiles - and find if he wants them, [illegible] [illegible due to fold in page]