162 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



From J. D. Dana to Spencer F. Baird. 



NEW HAVEN, Feb. 25th, 1847. 

 DEAR BAIRD, 



I have hoped to hear from Washington about the Curatorship 

 that I might give you a good word on the subject. But nothing has 

 come. So you must lean on hope for a while yet at least. I addressed 

 a letter to Prof. Henry about you the day after I last wrote you, 

 presenting your claims in a strong light. I hope I have not given 

 you vexation and uneasiness for nothing. We of the (Wilkes) expedi- 

 tion have had large allowances of the same commodity in times past. 

 You have a formidable rival in (Robert Dale) Owen yet there is 

 room for hope. Pickering I think does not expect it. I judge this 

 from his advising me to urge my claims. If he would accept it I 

 must, of course, support him, as I was long ago pledged to him, and 

 have the highest opinion of him. But he does not stand well with 

 Pearce and the Library Committee, and I believe there is little chance 

 for him. I do not know that you would secure much by writing 

 him unless you state that you do not present yourself as a rival of 

 him, but on the supposition that he was not a candidate; and then 

 ask his advice. He is at Washington. Your course thus far is right 

 if there are no insuperable obstacles that is, some favorite in the 

 way. Your efforts cannot be unavailing. Prof. Silliman would give 

 you a letter stating that he relies on another for his knowledge of you 

 and on the whole, I thought it quite as well to depend on what you 

 already have. 



The Principles of Zoology 19 I know nothing of farther than it is 

 to be. Gould has had the thing in view for a long time past, and, 

 Agassiz coming in the way, he has obtained his assistance. The 

 Index is slow work, it is about 2/3 printed and will be out probably 

 by the first of May. 



You see I have no news about Curatorship to mention and this 

 must be my excuse for giving you no speedier reply. Write me your 

 earliest word on the subject, or if any further aid is required write 

 freely to Yours very truly, 



JAMES D. DANA. 



19 Principles of Zoology, by Agassiz and Gould, Boston, Gould 

 and Lincoln, 1851. Revised edition, 1863. 



