208 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



for the present and the next year. I am sorry, however, to say that 

 they are not yet definitely settled and will principally depend on 

 the decision of the Regents as to the course to be pursued with refer- 

 ence to the building. You have been informed that a considerable 

 portion of the interior fell down, and that the Regents will be obliged 

 to fire-proof the Library and Museum. This change in the plan will 

 cost about 45,000 dolls, in addition to the original estimate. I fully 

 agree in the propriety of the expenditure under the present circum- 

 stances, for if we are to have collections of a valuable character they 

 should be deposited in a suitable building. The extra expenditure 

 however will diminish the annual income of the Institution, and 

 increase its natural tendency to assume a statical state, in which 

 miscellaneous collections of objects of nature and art are merely 

 exhibited as curiosities. 



To counteract this tendency, it is important that we should 

 push on the active operations, and for this purpose it is absolutely 

 necessary that I should have more assistance. On this point I wish 

 to have some free conversation with you and if it be possible for you 

 to come to Washington for a few days it would be well for you to do 

 so. We should have a full understanding with each other before our 

 connection is finally settled, that there may be no cause of difficulty 

 in the future. 



You know that I accepted my present position with the under- 

 standing that I should be allowed to carry out my plans of active 

 operations, and that in accordance with this understanding I refused 

 to accept a position much more in accordance with my taste as well 

 as my pecuniary interest. I now find myself however very much 

 restricted by the compromise of the Board and the diminution of 

 our income. I am therefore the more determined to guard myself 

 and what I deem the best interest of the Institution from farther 

 restrictions in the carrying out of my plans. By a reference to the 

 act of Congress establishing the Institution the Secretary is made 

 responsible for all its operations; he is to discharge the duty of 

 Librarian, Keeper of the Museum, &c., but with the consent of the 

 Board he may employ assistants. The object of giving him the power 

 of choosing his own assistants is undoubtedly that he may have 

 control of the operations that he may not have forced upon him 

 incompetent individuals, or those who would not give him their 



