1850 TO 1865 271 
bone had been found, and in our various diggings in various parts 
of it, we did not find anything of importance. I picked up a few small 
bones which I have preserved. The floor is generally soft like that 
of the Carlisle cave, and if we had had a little more time at command, 
we might have found something, but night came on us and we had 
to part. We promised to call again and try it, and the old gentleman 
said his son would then go with us, and show us where the bone was 
found &c. 
Yours truly, 
Joun Witson. 
In 1852 Baird arranged to have specimens for the 
Smithsonian transported on Government vessels when 
practicable. Prof. E. Emmons of the North Carolina 
Geological Survey offered to send his collections to the 
Institution for determination and report. When the 
Board of Regents met in January, Baird explained to 
them his plan for free international exchange of scientific 
papers, which was approved by them and Professor 
Henry and has since grown into the Bureau of Inter- 
national Exchanges, one of the greatest benefits to science 
ever planned. In January a fire occurred in Garrigue’s 
printing office, destroying the plates of the second volume 
of the Encyclopedia, and some Smithsonian material. 
At the request of Captain (later Major General) 
George B. McClellan he undertook to see a volume on 
Bayonet Exercises through the press. 
March 8th he went to Philadelphia to attend to 
various items of business and see his grandmother Biddle, 
then more than 86 years old. He finished the Report on 
Zoology for Stansbury’s expedition to Salt Lake. His 
salary was raised by the Regents to $2000.00 per annum. 
The International exchanges amounted to nearly 500 
packages for 362 institutions and individuals, nearly all 
