RK-185

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