1850 TO 1865 257 
easy matter for us to distribute all our publications to any point, 
and it will involve little additional cost and trouble to do this for 
ali the other Societies, all of these to whom it has been presented, 
have jumped at the plan with the greatest eagerness. In the same 
way we shall receive from abroad all transactions intended for this 
country in our packages, and distribute from Washington. I flatter 
myself that I can superintend a large business of this kind with 
accuracy and despatch. 
I have already mentioned my having enough to do. You will 
believe me when I mention some more items of business. The Ameri- 
can Association at the New Haven meeting made me Permanent, 
quasi-perpetual, Secretary; the duties to consist mainly in making 
up and publishing the semi-annual transactions. This has taken 
much of my time. The forthcoming volume, now in press, will 
occupy some 600 8vo. pp. I am also obliged to attend the meetings, 
which take place, the Spring one, in Cincinnati, (May) and the 
Summer, Albany (Aug.). The Association perpetrated an excellent 
joke in voting me $300.00 per annum for my services. The reality 
of the thing is that there are not funds enough to pay for half of the 
volume, much less 300 dollars additional. 
Item—I have undertaken the reptiles of the Exploring Expedition, 
to be completed in 2 years at 500 dollars per annum. The work and 
pay I shall however turn over to my assistant, Charles Girard, for- 
merly with Agassiz, who is more competent. for the labor than I am. 
It will however require a good deal of my time, at the most favorable 
view. 
Item—The Iconographic. You would not expect me to do much 
translating, nor do I. I put out the different articles all round, 
revising some, and correcting the proof of others. Garrigue expects 
to have all out by September next. He is in excellent spirits, having 
gone pretty well into the 2d. edition. 
I say nothing of such trifles as making out Zoological reports 
for Army officers, writing 8 or 10 letters every day, attending to 
dozens of diurnal and nocturnal visitors, etc. These are thrown into 
the bargain. 
And now to the Natural History part of my epistle. I am 
making every effort, in addition to the reptiles and fishes, to procure 
the best collection in comparative Osteology in the country. Please 
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