186 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



All through the letters of these two friends are not 

 only repeated expressions of the deepest friendship and 

 closest personal interest, but on Mr. Boardman's part 

 he is always looking out for ways to please his friend, 

 becoming interested in what he is interested in, planning 

 how he can get things for the Smithsonian and always 

 making inquiries about the scientific workers, what they 

 are doing and what they are getting for the Institution. 

 The personal allusions are always interesting. Writing 

 to Prof. Baird from Boston, May 28, 1869, Mr. Boardman 

 says : ' ' The box of plants came to hand all right before 

 I left and were in very good order. Mrs. Boardman sent 

 for Dr. Todd to help unpack them and she divided them 

 with him. The ferns were first-rate and Mrs. Boardman 

 wishes me to thank you for a box of the finest plants she 

 ever received from Washington." Writing August 26, 

 1869, he says : " Thanks for Mrs. Baird's letter of yes- 

 terday ; glad to hear you are home again all right and 

 had a good time. I was thinking of you yesterday in 

 the blow and thought Mrs. Baird better have a little 

 extra insurance upon you if you were at Grand Manan. 

 I note what you say about future work and think you 

 had better all come up Monday. Then we will see what is 

 best to be done." Prof. Baird had written to Mr. Board- 

 man about a wash or preparation to apply to the hands 

 and face for preventing mosquito bites and Mr. Board- 

 man says it will no doubt be a great thing. " Get the 

 Smithsonian, ' ' he writes, " to go into its manufacture. If 

 you cannot get the large hall for the purpose get the 

 capital and fit up that. It is time those political chaps 

 were sent home. I can't see any good they do ; most of 

 them would be better employed at home making shoes, 



