76 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
you Townsend’s receipt for preparing the powder, and which he 
always uses. It is safe, while there is danger of pure arsenic injuring 
the lungs. I have noticed a great many little points in Townsend’s 
manner of stuffing, which will be of great assistance to me when I 
prepare any skins myself. I looked at his tools and will try to get 
some like them. The value of proper instruments is very great in 
the saving of time as well as the appearance of the skins. Townsend 
can skin, stuff and sew up a bird, so as to make it look far superior 
to any I have ever seen, in five minutes. 
From William M. Baird to S. F. Baird. 
Wasuincton, November 23, 1842. 
There is a man named Naylor, an Englishman, engaged at the 
Patent Office in making eyes. He seems to be well skilled in the 
business and has enabled Townsend to put colored eyes into the 
birds which wanted them. The collection of birds is growing very 
fast and Townsend appears to be improving very much in the atti- 
tudes in which he places them. 
From S. F. Baird to J. J. Audubon. 
WasHINGTON, July 27, 1842. 
My pear Mr. AupuBoN:— 
After making several unsuccessful efforts to get a second sight 
of you, day before yesterday, I was obliged to give up the attempt 
in despair. I went to the Capitol at half-past twelve and wandered 
over the whole building, Library, Senate Chamber, & house, without 
being able to see or hear anything of your excellency. In the evening 
as in the morning I was again at Fuller’s without avail—went up 
street, listened a while to the Circus music, came back—you were 
in bed. One thing I wanted to ask you about, was respecting your 
proposed trip next Spring. In the first place the expense: the 
Pennsylvanians have all been so much affected by the derangements 
in the currency of our state, Stocks, Banks, &c., that, where in former 
years dollars were thrown away, cents are now carefully looked to. 
Nothing could delight me more than to go, if I can afford it. Next, 
