THE YOUNG PROFESSOR 207 



In a conversation I had with Prof. Henry some time ago, I took 

 occasion to blow your trumpet a little, when I told him that you had 

 several papers requiring pretty heavy illustration, he requested me 

 to tell you that he would publish them in the Smithsonian Trans- 

 actions to any reasonable amount. He will give you two hundred 

 copies for yourself and publish a single paper without waiting for a 

 volume. I have persuaded Dr. Joseph Culbertson of Chambersburg 

 to present some of his Merycoidodon fossils to the Academy. Please 

 have them presented accordingly. 



On the day this letter was written Baird had been to 

 Chambersburg to bid goodbye to Dr. Culbertson, who was 

 about to start for the far West. For collections to be 

 made by him the Smithsonian had made a small appro- 

 priation. 



In March work on the Encyclopedia alternated with 

 college work and energetic search for fossil bones in 

 caves and elsewhere. A visit to Philadelphia to attend a 

 meeting of the trustees of Dickinson College was followed 

 by a few days in New York and return to Carlisle in the 

 early part of April. 



Baird had suggested to Henry the preparation of 

 circulars giving simple instructions for collecting in various 

 branches of Natural History and had submitted a draft 

 of such a circular to be issued by the Smithsonian. 



From Joseph Henry to Spencer F. Baird. 



WASHINGTON April 23, 1850. 

 MY DEAR SIR: 



Your letter of the 2Oth has just been received, and after making 

 a slight alteration in your circular, I return it to you with my full 

 approbation. I also send you a certificate of appointment as the 

 agent for the Smithsonian Institution. 



I have deferred from time to time writing to you with the hope 

 of being able to give you some definite information as to our plans 



