282 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
From Dr. Elisha Kent Kane® to Spencer F. Baird. 
(November, 1852.) 
My pear Proressor:— 
I thank you much for your aid in securing Mr. Thomas, as also 
for your volunteered initiation into the dredge and other marine 
mysteries. 
Would you kindly deliver the enclosed to Mr. T. and tell him if a 
pecuniary advance would be of any service to him, I will do my best to 
accommodate him. The fact is that I wish in every way to show my 
care for the happiness and comfort of our little party. Pent up in a 
small compass—and subjected, as we will be, to a rigid system of dis- 
cipline as a means of accomplishing much hard work, I want to bring 
about a spirit of cheerfulness and contentment in our little mess. 
They say, among my naval friends, that subordination can only 
be preserved by a uniform distance and reserve. This idea is repug- 
nant to the kindly feelings of one’s nature—‘‘non semper arcum,” 
&c., &c. and I intend to try hard to be exacting on duty and bearable 
when off of it. 
Would you say to Mr. Thomas that unless he is prepared to make 
‘the best of things” and laugh at little annoyances, he had better not 
go with me. “Bear and forbear” must be the rule of our little mess, 
and each one must be prepared for work of a mixed and incongruous 
description. 
With this parting growl I really think that Mr. T. will find the 
arctics a very comfortable region. ‘ ; 
y 8 - Your friend in haste, 
E. K. Kane. 
From S. F. Baird to Capt. Geo. B. McClellan, Corpus Christi, Texas. 
WasuinctTon, Nov. 6th, 1852. 
My pear Captrain:— 
It was with the greatest pleasure that I received your letter of 
August 12, 1852, forwarded by Capt. Marcy a week ago from New 
York. Accompanying it was a note from him stating that he had 
Elisha Kent Kane, M.D., U.S.N., the distinguished arctic explorer, 
born in Philadelphia Feb. 20, 1820, died at Havana, Feb. 16, 1857. 
