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[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., [written] Oct. 21 [printed] 18 [written] 62
Dear Bobert,
Since writing yesterday I have been endeavoring to devise ways and means for getting you on here. Among other plans is that of having you appointed medical cadet to one of the hospitals. The pay is not much - $30.00 a month. and your board and lodging in hospital: still it would support you amply. As you have attended one part of one course You are eligible for the place. The duties would be to help keep the records of the hospital, to aid in attending to the sick, and wounded. assist in operations etc. You could do as much service in this way as in a regular fighting capacity. Your time would be much occupied, it is true. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but if you intend to make medicine et.
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Your profession. You could not have a better training. You would learn as much in a moonth as in ten years of ordinary country practice.
Think of this matter. I can get you the place without difficulty for the Surgeon general, who is our old ally Dr Wr. A. Hammond who used to collect snakes about Fort Riley.
I want to have you write out the Natural History of your expedition while it is fresh in your mind. to be published by the Smithsonian. to include besides general matters, a systematic list of all the animals observed. with list of all specimens received by us from the fur countries; notes of habits et. all to be solely under your name, though of course I will help all I can. This to be independent or not of a popular account of personal travel and adventure.
Did you see Donald Gunn. and what did he get
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[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, [written] 2 [printed] Washington, D. C., 18
[handwritten] for us in Lake Winipeg. I have not heard from him.
Were you in the Anderson this past spring, and what success. Did Lockhart and Jones get the Maynard breech Loading rifles I sent them costing about $120.00 and was this put to your credit as it should in the final settlement
Never mind about the overdrawing your account. We will fix all that.
Xantus is here in Dr Hammonds office. Hayden is in Hospital duty: Stimpson is in England. Meek & Gill are alone are here.
Ever Yours S F Baird
R Kennicott