1850 TO 1865 291 



to forgive me considering who and where I am. But with all don't 

 think I imagine myself more unfavorably situated than most men of 

 science at my time of life ours is a common experience to some 

 extent we all deprecate the "worse" and long for the "better." 

 I have but given vent to my feelings as I only occasionally have an 

 opportunity to do. 



Hoping that this almost endless letter may not be the means of 

 terminating our correspondence, I remain, 



Very truly and respectfully yours, 



A. WINCHELL. 



From S. F. Baird to Alexander Winchell, Eutaw, Ala. 



WASHINGTON, March 19, 1853. 

 MY DEAR SIR: 



Ever since my last note acknowledging the receipt of your large 

 box, I have been endeavoring to find time to respond in detail to your 

 letter, and to report more at length upon the collection. A visit to the 

 Institution, especially at this time, would, however, soon convince 

 you of the difficulty of such an undertaking, in view of the overwhelm- 

 ing amount of business to be accomplished, the hordes of devouring 

 visitors (time-eaters) &c. I have however resolutely pressed some 

 things back and others forwards, and thus have a little notch which 

 I cannot fill up more pleasantly than in a little chat with one whose 

 disposition, sentiments, and strivings are so much akin to my own. 

 As the most systematic way of proceeding, I shall therefore begin at 

 the commencement of your letter, and follow it through to the end. 



I consider the entire despatch from you as one of the most impor- 

 tant contributions the Institution has ever received. We frequently 

 get single suites of specimens in particular departments of Nat. Hist, 

 of greater extent than yours, but very seldom such a variety, serving 

 as a type of all the natural productions of a country; and still more 

 rarely notes of memoranda, approaching in any degree to the minute- 

 ness and comprehensiveness of yours. I do not know how far Ala- 

 bama may have her own fossils in her own cabinets, but I feel well 

 assured that there is nothing so complete in the Northern states. 

 Mr. T. A. Conrad will probably soon take them up in connection with 

 some others we have received from other regions, and in his report on 



