188 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



I shall be very happy to form an exchange of meteoric specimens, in order to 

 obtain a supply of your St. Kosa (New Mexico) iron. 



I am very glad you intend to bring the minerals into order. Many valuable con- 

 tributions will thus be secured. 



Excuse the haste in which I write, and believe me, very truly yours, 



C. A. SHEPAED. 



Professor Henry. 



University College, Toronto, January 31, 1862. 



Dear Sir : At the request of the faculty, students, and board of curators of Knox 

 College, the theological institution of the Canada Presbyterian Church, I have ven- 

 tured to write to you on the subject of our museum. 



We are anxious, by an energetic and united effort, to accomplish three things. 



1. To awaken throughout the country an interest in the world of nature. 



2. To collect, as far as possible, specimens illustrative of all the zoological, botani- 

 cal, and mineralogical species of Canada. "We think that the solution of several im- 

 portant scientific problems — the northern limit of species, &c. — are involved in this. 

 The ground is being gradually occupied. The Geological Survey, the Botanical So- 

 ciety, the Montreal Natural History Society, the Canadian Institute, &c, are all 

 doing their share in the work of research ; but there is a wide field still open. 



Our third object will be to supply societies, museums, &c, with specimens from 

 this country. In doing this we shall always bear in mind the fact that the Smithso- 

 nian is the great central institution for the continent, and that in no other way can 

 our ultimate object be so well attained as by working with you. 



A part of our scheme was to issue circulars giving information on the best methods 

 of procuring, preserving, and forwarding specimens. 



Could you furnish us with three hundred copies of your "Directions?" "We will, 

 with your permission, append a short circular stating our plan and appealing to the 

 people to join with us in carrying it into execution, and then without delay try to put 

 them all into the hands of parties who will make a good use of them. Please aid us 

 all you can in the matter. "We have just enough of articles on hand to form the 

 nucleus of a good museum ; for the rest we look to the future — to your kindness and 

 to the blessing of nature's God on our exertions. If you can spare the pamphlets we 

 will gladly remit whatever you value them at. 



Thanking you most earnestly, dear sir, for the reports and catalogues, I have the 

 honor to be, yours, very truly, 



JAMES HUBBERT, 

 Secretary Board of Curators, Knox College Museum. 



Prof. Joseph Henry, LL.D., 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



Eoyal Horticultural Society, 

 South Kensington, W., December 21, 1861. 

 Dear Sir : I am requested by the Secretary, while acknowledging the receipt of 

 your letter of October 18th, to acquaint you that the council have much pleasure in 

 acceding to the request that this society's journals should be sent to the various insti- 

 tutions therein named, with a view to interchange. A parcel will therefore be sent 

 to Mr. "Wesley in a few days for transmission to you. 

 I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, 



HENEY J. DOWDEN. 

 Joseph Henry, Esq., Washington. 



Cobourg, Canada West, April 1, 1862. 

 My Dear Sir : I take this opportunity for expressing my warmest thanks for your 

 repeated kindness in furnishing me with so many valuable publications on the insects 

 of this continent, without the aid of which my progress in the study of entomology * 

 would be but slow and difficult. I can speak for others in this country, as well as for 

 myself, when I say that we are deeply grateful for the assistance we have received 

 from your noble institution ; and that but for its liberality the natural sciences would 

 have hardly made what advancement they have in this country during the past few 

 years 



