338 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



in October. In November and December Mrs. Churchill, 

 Mrs. Baird and Lucy were all ill, necessitating the Pro- 

 fessor's constant presence, except for about an hour a 

 day for several weeks. 



To Mr. Samuel Hubbard, San Francisco, from Spencer F. Baird. 



WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 1861. 



MY DEAR MR. HUBBARD, 



All our anxious expectation of our dear friend Dr. Kennedy, 

 absent from us so long, has been checked by the sad news of his 

 death between San Francisco and Acapulco, on the steamer the first 

 of the month. We had a letter by overland mail last night announcing 

 his intention of starting, and having previously seen his name in the 

 " Poney " (Express) list of passengers, were surprised to find it wanting 

 in that published in yesterday's New York papers. A note from Dr. 

 Suckley however, received this morning, gave the distressing news 

 of his death. We have no particulars, and we do not see Mr. Alden's 

 name among the arrivals, who we understood started with him. 

 Perhaps he has been delayed over a steamer by matters connected 

 with Dr. K. 



Although no relation to him whatever, his death is a sad blow 

 to Mrs. Baird and myself. He was a student in college while I was a 

 professor, fourteen or fifteen years ago, and he has been like a son 

 or younger brother ever since. Our house has been his home and 

 during the whole four years (nearly) of his absence, scarcely a steamer 

 left without a letter from us. ... 



To George Gibbs, New York City, from Spencer F. Baird. 



WASHINGTON, March 3d, 1861. 

 MY DEAR MR. GIBBS, 



Yours of the second came this morning. I have seen Mr. Alden 

 and learned from him all there was to communicate. 25 



I am much obliged for the photograph, and think I will try to get 

 a larger picture painted from it. 



25 About the death of Dr. Kennerly, who had been naturalist and 

 surgeon connected with the Northwest Boundary Survey. 



