332 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



department. His attention was particularly directed to Geology, 

 Botany, and Vegetable Paleontology. For several years he has been 

 making a special study of the coal plants of Ohio and Pennsylvania, 

 and in this occupies the very front rank. He has also worked with 

 great success among the fossil fishes of the coal formation. A year 

 ago he was appointed Geologist and Naturalist to the party of Lt. 

 Williamson, detailed for the survey of a portion of the mountain 

 region of Oregon and California. He is now in this city engaged in 

 working up the results of his very successful labors. 



Doctor Newberry's acquaintance with Chemistry and Physics 

 is quite extensive sufficiently so for all of the requirements of a 

 college course. For several years he was the assistant of his brother- 

 in-law, Prof. St. John in this very department. 



I have no hesitation whatever in saying that Doctor Newberry 

 occupies a position in the very front rank of original investigators 

 in Natural Science, and that any institution would be fortunate in 

 his aid. While many could or might give a much more thorough 

 course in practical instruction in the single line of Chemistry, I know 

 of no one more capable of vitalizing the study of the Natural Sciences, 

 in showing the intimate and harmonious relations of one branch 

 with another, and exhibiting the poetry of true science. 



I may state in conclusion that Doctor Newberry is of very 

 polished manners and highly beloved by all who know him. 



Very respectfully yours, 



SPENCER F. BAIRD. 



Asst. Sec. S. /. 



From John H. Clark to Spencer F. Baird. 



CAMP ON QUAPAW, NEB., Oct. 28th 1857. 

 DEAR PROF. 



I am sorry to have to say that your letter was received too late 

 to make an expedition for jackass rabbits. I saw but very few at 

 any rate, and only one that looked like the famous common old 

 fellow of Texas and New Mexico. 



I have picked you up some few things no novelties however 

 I suspect. I left the box in the train behind, which was breaking 



