294 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
much pressed to find time for study, and a Prof. must have enough 
pupils to give him a support. Some of the Profs. here are not 
employed more than an hour of the day, and some have not more than 
two or three pupils. I cannot say too much of my own Prof. Wohler. 
He is a model of an instructor. If I could have begun the study of 
Chemistry under such a man, I should have a different story to tell. 
You know his abilities, how often his name occurs in the history of 
chemistry. His whole talents are at the command of his pupils. He 
is at the laboratory in the morning as soon as it is light enough to see, 
and during most of the day you may see him going from one to another 
with advice and direction. I think he even gives too much assistance, 
though he constantly repeats to us that the object of our studies is to 
enable us to pursue independent investigation. He keeps in a book 
the memorandum of each student’s work and his special aims. All his 
thoughts seem to be upon our advancement. To have a man of his 
ability and patience and kindness by one’s side is enough to encourage 
one to work. I have had a few hours instruction from the Baron von 
Waltershausen in mineralogy, but I have had little time to attend to 
it. I have been spending from six to ten hours a day in the labora- 
tory. 
Spencer F. Baird from Lieut. D. N. Couch, U. S. A.® 
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, Feb. 15, 1853. 
My bear S1r:— 
The “Mail” is just in from New Orleans and with it came your 
note forwarding Bishop Hughes’ letter to the Catholic clergy &c., &c. 
Although I have been here fourteen days I have done but little. Some 
25 or thirty birds badly put up, a few snakes, quadrupeds, and insects 
is all I can show—and yet I have worked; the weather, however, must 
bear part of the blame, having had many rainy days. 
I would go down to the Brazos for the purpose of collecting fish, 
but I am assured by Capt. Van Vliet that he will make a full col- 
lection, (en passant)—I cannot rewrite my letter notwithstanding the 
Darius Nash Couch, later Major General, U.S.A., born July 22, 
1822, in Putnam Co., New York; died Feb. 12, 1897. A distinguished 
officer, and explorer of the Western country. 
