62 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1836, 



ably be selected are mostly ray personal friends : two 

 of them at least having been recommended at my sug- 

 gestion. The quarters offered us, and the accommoda- 

 tions, will be ample and complete, and the pay will 

 probably be considerable. We hope to obtain over 

 $2500 per year. Had I room here I would write you 

 further particulars, but this will do for the present. 

 I ask whether, if everything is arranged in a satisfac- 

 tory manner, you are willing and think it best that I 

 should go. I think it not unlikely that the appoint- 

 ments will be made during the present month. A 

 few days ago I was offered the professorship of 

 chemistry and natural history in the college at Jack- 

 son, Louisiana (in the upper part of that State, near 

 the Mississippi River), with a salary of $1500 per 

 year. This I at once declined. I do not like the 

 Southern States. 



Yours affectionately, A. GRAY. 



NEW YORK, November 21, 1836. 



No appointments are yet made in the scientific corps 

 of the South Sea expedition. The difficulties as to 

 the naval officers are only just settled. There are so 

 many who wish to command that it is impossible to 

 please them all. Captain Jones, the commander, is 

 now in town, and I had the pleasure of seeing him this 

 evening at the Astor hotel. He goes to Boston to- 

 morrow to look after the two brigs fitting out at the 

 navy yard there. 



The Secretary of the Navy has written me that 

 when the appointments are made in the scientific 

 corps, the chief naturalists will be called to Washing- 

 ton for a few days, for the distribution of duties 

 among them. If the place for which I ask is given 



