212 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



another officer was needed to take charge of the cabinet and to act 

 as naturalist of the Institution. Whereupon it was Resolved (in 

 substance) that Prof. Henry be authorized to nominate an assistant 

 secretary to act as Keeper of the Cabinet and to perform such other 

 duties, etc. at a salary of $1500. 



Prof. Henry then nominated yourself and the nomination was 

 confirmed without opposition. I beg leave to congratulate you 

 and I take the liberty to congratulate ourselves upon this result 

 which seems to be in accordance with the wishes of all persons 

 concerned. 



No time was fixed for the commencement of the term of 

 service, nor was anything said on the subject. It will be as you 

 requested when you were here, unless you have now some wish 

 to change it. 



I have only to add, for I am in great haste, that if I can in any 

 way help you in your arrangements for establishing yourself here, 

 I will do so most cheerfully. . . 



Very sincerely yours, 



C. C. JEWETT. 



From Joseph Henry to Spencer F. Baird. 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, July 8, 1850. 



MY DEAR SIR: I presume you have received the official announce- 

 ment of your appointment and that you will not hesitate to accept 

 the office. I can assure you that nothing on my part shall be wanting 

 to render your position as agreeable and as profitable to you as the 

 character of the position will permit. I think the office will afford 

 you an opportunity of prosecuting your favorite study to the best 

 advantage, while it will enable you to render important service to 

 the cause of knowledge in our country by the assistance and co- 

 operation you will render me in the line of our publications. 



I would have written to you before this had not Prof. Jewett 

 offered to apprise you by telegraph of your appointment. 



I am pleased to be able to inform you that all the difficulties 

 relative to the building have been amicably settled in a manner 

 very favorably to the institution, and that a system of accounts 



