212 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
another officer was needed to take charge of the cabinet and to act 
as naturalist of the Institution. Whereupon it was Resolved (in 
substance) that Prof. Henry be authorized to nominate an assistant 
secretary to act as Keeper of the Cabinet and to perform such other 
duties, etc. at a salary of $1500. 
Prof. Henry then nominated yourself and the nomination was 
confirmed without opposition. I beg leave to congratulate you— 
and I take the liberty to congratulate ourselves upon this result 
which seems to be in accordance with the wishes of all persons 
concerned. 
No time was fixed for the commencement of the term of 
service, nor was anything said on the subject. It will be as you 
requested when you were here, unless you have now some wish 
to change it. 
I have only to add, for I am in great haste, that if I can in any 
way help you in your arrangements for establishing yourself here, 
I will do so most cheerfully. 
Very sincerely yours, 
C. C. Jewett. 
From Joseph Henry to Spencer F. Baird. 
SMITHSONIAN INstTiTUTION, July 8, 1850. 
My pear S1r:—I presume you have received the official announce- 
ment of your appointment and that you will not hesitate to accept 
the office. I can assure you that nothing on my part shall be wanting 
to render your position as agreeable and as profitable to you as the 
character of the position will permit. I think the office will afford 
you an opportunity of prosecuting your favorite study to the best 
advantage, while it will enable you to render important service to 
the cause of knowledge in our country by the assistance and co- 
operation you will render me in the line of our publications. 
I would have written to you before this had not Prof. Jewett 
offered to apprise you by telegraph of your appointment. 
I am pleased to be able to inform you that all the difficulties 
relative to the building have been amicably settled in a manner 
very favorably to the institution, and that a system of accounts 
