302 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
vices, and anticipation for the future as Dr. Leidy. The very exten- 
sive correspondence which the Smithsonian Institution carries on 
with all the scientific centres of Europe renders us fully cognizant of 
this fact. The appreciation of his labors by the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion itself is evinced by the fact that by the middle of this year it will 
have expended between two and three thousand dollars in the publi- 
cation of important works written by him. 
What I have said refers chiefly to the reputation which a man of 
such promise and performance will bring to any Institution with 
which he is connected. Of his fitness for the place itself, there can be 
no question. While carrying on these collateral branches, he has ever 
prosecuted special investigations into human anatomy and physi- 
ology with the greatest success. 
Dr. Leidy’s personal manners are highly prepossessing and his 
whole deportment calculated to make and retain warm friends. His 
most intimate friends are those who respect and esteem him most 
highly for his moral and social attributes. His election to the position 
for which he is a candidate will one day be considered as one of the 
most important facts connected with the history of the University. 
Please tell Harry that we have now the finest collection of horns 
of American and European deer he ever saw. I hope he may one day 
visit our institution and see for himself our magnificent series of game 
fish, trout, etc. which is so rapidly accumulating. 
Very truly and sincerely yours, 
SPENCER F. Bairp. 
From J. D. Easter to Spencer F. Baird. 
GOTTINGEN, May 28, 1853. 
Dear PROFESSOR: 
. . . You want to know something about the savants. We 
have a rare collection of them in this town, though one has very little 
chance to know them well. Wohler I have partly described to you 
before. He is a thin-faced careworn looking man, with curly hair 
which is left to grow at random and generally conceals his fine fore- 
head. He is one of the hardest workers I ever knew. He indulges 
very little in social or family pleasures though his disposition is very 
