RK-215

[printed letterhead] No. [written] 1455 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, [written] 1 [printed] Washington, D. C.

[written] December 6. 1856

Dear Robert

I received your letter of Nov. 30, yesterday, and proceed to answer it, though most of its queries have already been responded to in letters you have doubtless had since you wrote

It is not necessary for you to spend a great deal of time on the article for the Patent office. It should fill some 40 printed pages of the Agricultural report, and if exceeding that, should be condensed. Very brief notices of the carnivora will be sufficient: the mink is perhaps the only species of much importance to the farmer. You merely need enumerate all the known species of Illinois, dismissing most of the larger ones with a few lines. Give good articles to the moles, and the principal rodents.

I wish very much that the

idea of a professorship in the University could be realised. Let me know whether I can do anything to help you in realising it. The University could not do better than to set you to work for two years in summers in collecting materials for a grand State Museum. All the assistance you could want, you could readily obtain. I will be responsible for all the vertebrata at any rate. The University ought to pay you at least $500.00 per annum, and defray all the necessary expenses, which might amount to 300 to 500 dollars more Still a less sum might answer.

I do not know that you could do a better thing than to come and spend a winter in Washington. Our collections and Library will be freely opened to you, and I need not say that any supervision or direction to your studies, I will cheerfully undertake as far as my abilities and leisure will allow. I can readily put you in the way of learning all

[printed letterhead] No. [written] 1455 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, [written] 2 [printed] Washington, D. C.

[written] You want to know in regard to the generalities of Natural History, and the experience you would acquire would in matters of museum detail and arrangement would be of great service to you. If my wife were in better health I would gladly invite you to make my home your home, but I must avoid burdening her with any additional care or responsibility. Comfortable accommodations could be had however for about 25 dollars per month.

It will however be most important to you to acquire the profession and title of M.D. It will be indispensable on many accounts. What I would advise therefore is this. Finish up your article for the Patent office as soon as possible, and then devote yourself thoroughly to the lectures for the rest of the winter. Get some appointment for the University to collect specimens

during a portion of the summer, and with the proceeds of this to support you, come to Washington next winter with your collections or without them. You can take your second course at one of the two medical schools here, and find time too, to attend to the Natural History. Or else finish your next course at Chicago, in 1857-58, and the ensuing winter come to Washington a full fledged M.D.

If the University will make some such arrangement with you, I will back you to the best of my ability. But as I said before, I consider it a sine qua non to ultimate success, to acquire the degree of Doctor, even though you should not make a practice of it as a profession.

I am in earnest about you coming here to study. You need only a little guidance to enable you to be all I hope for you

[printed letterhead] No. [written] 1455 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, [written] 3 [printed] Washington, D. C.

[written] In reply to one question, do not trouble yourself about Cotton rat, or the like: Confine yourself strictly to Illinois mammals, or such ^{conspicuous species} as belong to the western prairies, very few of which are not found in Illinois. Give a short article on the Prairie dog, as I want to put in a figure taken from our living one. Dont touch any peculiar New York, Penna or other extra [illegible] regions.

I sent you the list of Ill. Mammals in my last.

Putorius agilis has a longer tail and is smaller than P. noveboracensis

I had a very kind letter from your father a short time ago. Will you let him read this (if he can!) as a reply to it?

Yours sincerely S.F. Baird

Robt. Kennicott Chicago