1850 TO 1865 327 



Spencer F. Baird from J. Cassin. 



PHILADA. Oct. 8th, 1855. 

 DEAR PROF. 



. . . I am at this particular time anxious to get Du Chaillu 

 fixed up for another expedition to Africa he is now making arrange- 

 ments, he wants outfit or money a small supply of the latter 

 I can raise for him here is it in your power to do anything? can 

 you let him have some of your kettles for Reptiles? or snakes, or 

 alcohol? please consider this matter with the gravity becoming the 

 importance of an African Expedition, think of Mungo Park and 

 the various travelers as has perished in the attempt. 



Du Chaillu intends to try and penetrate further than he yet has 

 been, up the Moonda into the mountains discovered by him, not 

 down on the Maps, and by my direction will try to find the source 

 of the Congo he has already been within 50 miles of the latter, as 

 supposed Must do something he has found more new birds than 

 any one lately. 



Will probably come to Wash, next Friday have a quantity of 

 memoranda please answer quick about Du Chaillu I want to fix 

 him off this week or he will interfere with my coming. 



Ever yours, 



J. CASSIN. 



From Spencer F. Baird to William M. Baird. 



October 17, 1855. 

 DEAR WILL: 



I received the paper with your address and read it with much 

 pleasure. I did not know you were in the lecturing line and was 

 quite astonished at seeing the heading. There was one serious omis- 

 sion however; in addressing an assemblage of farmers, why did you 

 not take the occasion to say that you had a brother whose chief 

 passion was field mice, and that all they could catch and send you 

 would be thankfully received. . . . 



Your aff. brother, 



S. F. BAIRD. 



