128 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



From Spencer F. Baird to William M. Baird. 



CARLISLE, Nov 24. 1845. 

 DEAR WILL, 



I received your letter yesterday, and as you request hasten to 

 attend to its contents. I saw Mr. Hamilton just now about the school. 

 He says that the board elected Tommy Criswell on trial for four 

 months from I December to I April. If satisfactory he will probably 

 be retained. I don't believe however that he will suit very well. 

 I should like very much to have Dana here; is he related to J. D. 

 Dana? Talking of him, don't you want to subscribe for Silliman's 

 Journal a new series of which commences on January next. It will 

 appear every two months, & will contain more matter than before, 

 particularly miscellaneous science & bibliography. It is 5 or 6 dollars 

 a year. Try and get some body or bodies in Reading to subscribe. 

 They are going to publish an index to the 50 vols. of the old series, 

 price $3.00, don't you want this? If you will have either, let me send 

 for you, as may be I can get enough subscribers for a gratis copy. 



I have very little to say about Shooting, having hardly been 

 out for weeks. Partridges I care nothing about, and Ducks are 

 obsolete. I spend my time at hard study. Spanish (South Am; 

 Mexico; & California;) Italian & German in the morning, Analytical 

 Mathematics, drawing (Landscapes) &c. in the afternoon. I am 

 going to study Mineralogy & Chemistry, & Iron Metallurgy also. 

 William Watts in consideration of analysing his ores, will buy me 

 any apparatus & books I want. I have accordingly sent for Dana's 

 Mineralogy, Fresenius Chem. analysis, Berzelius on the blowpipe 

 &c. He will get me blowpipes, mortar, platinum spoon, tests &c. 

 this week in Phila. I have got out the old collection of minerals, 

 but cannot find the catalogue. Do you know anything of it? I 

 wish you were here to see my room. It is the greatest one in the 

 country. Every thing fixed off in grand style, Venetian Shutters, 

 Sash springs, morticed locks, fine carpet, Crimson curtains (about 

 to be) drum 4 &c. Never smokes, very light, easily warmed, &c. 

 Nothing new here, at least I can think of nothing. The new bell is 

 up in the Court-house, weighs 1020 Ibs. If I can raise money I will 



4 A sheet iron cylinder fixed above the stove to increase radiating 

 surface. 



