200 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
receiving at least a part of the money and in order to prevent difficulty, 
I advanced $1500.00 on my own account, and promised to propose 
to the Board that the whole should be paid at the beginning of the 
next year. From the above statement you will perceive that we shall 
be much straitened next year unless the Board conclude to abandon 
the financial scheme they have adopted. 
I can assure you that it would give me much pleasure to nominate 
you to the office of naturalist were there any prospect that the nomi- 
nation would at present be for the best interests of the Institution, 
or that it would be acted on by the Board. I have told you that you 
are my choice and if nothing occurs to change my opinion of your 
character, of which I see not the slightest prospect, I shall nominate 
you to the Board in due time. You must recollect, however, (and 
I know you do) that in all the appointments I must be governed by 
what I consider to be the best for the Institution. I shall know no 
friendship in the choice, and if you are elected it will be because, 
all things considered, you are the best man; you will therefore owe 
your election to your own reputation though I shall nominate you 
with the understanding that you will assist in carrying out the plan 
of the Institution set forth in the Programme. 
From Spencer F. Baird to Joseph Leidy. 
ir bene Lie, CarLIsLE, Dec. 5, 1849. 
I hope you do not think it necessary to make any excuse for 
asking me to assist you in your researches in any way.” I am only 
too happy to be associated even indirectly in those discoveries of 
which (yourself the greatest) we are all so proud. Never hesitate in 
the least about calling on me, as you love me. I regret vastly that 
you did not speak of these things you wish, before this time. I went 
out to the woods this afternoon with three of my most indefatigable 
assistants, but could find nothing of the kind wanted, not even a 
Julus. It was just so last year. I picked up a few scolopendra, 
Passalus, Gryllus, various larvae, &c. which I send by Adams Express 
to-day. . . . The Salamanders I send have had nothing to eat 
for more than six months, and the snake is not much better off; there 
2 Doctor Leidy was then engaged on his great work on a fauna 
and flora in living animals. 
