RK-217

[printed letterhead] No. [written] 1678 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.

[written] December 13, 1856

Dear Robert

I am sorry that my letter sent to West Northfield has miscarried. I believe it was a very long one. Its purpose has however been covered by the several subsequent ones.

First and foremost however I most decidedly advise you continuing your medical studies until you acquire the degree, even if you take several more years to it. That is I would not [illegible] a winter, until the object is attained. It will be all important to your success in life as a Professor of Natural Science, as an investigator in Zoology, or even as Curator of a Museum. Its studies lie at the foundation of a good scientific education, and without acquiring them thoroughly you cannot expect for success as a naturalist.

You can readily combine both objects, especially if you

take a three years course instead of two. But if anything is to be given up for the present, let it rather be the Natural History. This can wait better than the other.

I do not think the incoherence of your speech, of which you speak, will be any great obstacle to success as a lecturer. Practice, and training will overcome this, and especially a careful preparation of the subject matter of your discourse, and a deliberate enunciation of it afterwards. You write very well; and if you talk as well, there will be no difficulty.

A good plan would be to agree with Prof. Evans ^{or the University} to make a collection of Illinois animals in three years as you suggest; he or it to pay the necessary expenses of travel and transportation, alcohol &c, not to exceed a certain sum; and you to have an additional compensation

[printed letterhead] No. [written] 1678 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.

[written] say four or five hundred dollars a year. The amount of course will depend on what they are willing to give. It would be a great thing for the University or Chicago, to have a complete Museum of the Natural History of the Northwest; it would be a sure card in the competition for classes. Let the report be a subsequent thing. If the State authorises a State Survey, then the advances of the above mentioned parties might be returned.

It will give me much pleasure to have you come to Washington and spend as much time as you can among our collections & books. I will give you enough to do, to familiarize yourself with the practical part of curatorship, and

with the theory & practise of zoological investigation. I think you can do this to better advantage here than anywhere else. It will be no trouble to me, but a very great pleasure, and you can aid me materially in my labor.

You will want all the large animals you speak of in time, but for the present it is not worth while to bother about them as wolves, badgers, wild cats &c. I do not care about more squirrels now, unless you could send living [furry?] [ones?]. I would like a figure taken from life. All the species you have sent living are already in hand of engraver, drawn on wood. I have introduced a figure of a Prairie dog, Arctomys ludovicianus, and I want you to compile a short article on it in your report

I do not care about the bats you mention.

[printed letterhead] No. [written] 1678 [printed] Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.

[written] A part of a Zoological Museum will be a source of skulls & skeletons of mammals & other vertebrata. You cant have too many. A hundred ^skulls of each will not be a superfluity.

Very truly yours S.F. Baird

Rob. Kennicott Chicago

P.S. You can live in Washington for about 30 dollars a month to include board, washing, & Possibly less. – not much however