1850 TO 1865 291 
to forgive me considering who and where I am. But with all don’t 
think I imagine myself more unfavorably situated than most men of 
science at my time of life—ours is a common experience to some 
extent—we all deprecate the “worse” and long for the “better.” 
I have but given vent to my feelings as I only occasionally have an 
opportunity to do. 
Hoping that this almost endless letter may not be the means of 
terminating our correspondence, I remain, 
Very truly and respectfully yours, 
A. WINCHELL. 
From S. F. Baird to Alexander Winchell, Eutaw, Ala. 
Wasuincton, March 19, 1853. 
My Dear Sir:— 
Ever since my last note acknowledging the receipt of your large 
box, I have been endeavoring to find time to respond in detail to your 
letter, and to report more at length upon the collection. A visit to the 
Institution, especially at this time, would, however, soon convince 
you of the difficulty of such an undertaking, in view of the overwhelm- 
ing amount of business to be accomplished, the hordes of devouring 
visitors (time-eaters) &c. I have however resolutely pressed some 
things back and others forwards, and thus have a little notch which 
I cannot fill up more pleasantly than in a little chat with one whose 
disposition, sentiments, and strivings are so much akin to my own. 
As the most systematic way of proceeding, I shall therefore begin at 
the commencement of your letter, and follow it through to the end. 
I consider the entire despatch from you as one of the most impor- 
tant contributions the Institution has ever received. We frequently 
get single suites of specimens in particular departments of Nat. Hist. 
of greater extent than yours, but very seldom such a variety, serving 
as a type of all the natural productions of a country; and still more 
rarely notes of memoranda, approaching in any degree to the minute- 
ness and comprehensiveness of yours. I do not know how far Ala- 
bama may have her own fossils in her own cabinets, but I feel well 
assured that there is nothing so complete in the Northern states. 
Mr. T. A. Conrad will probably soon take them up in connection with 
some others we have received from other regions, and in his report on 
