
          Smithsonian Institution
Dec 30th 1860

My Dear Dr

Your note of the 24th has
been received and I hasten to say
that what ever assistance you may
require in a moderate way for the
arrangement of the plants will be allowed.

I am anxious to go on with the distribution
of our duplicates as rapidly as
possible. Natural History has been
by far the most expensive part of our
operations. It has cost us more in proportion
to the credit we have received  
on account of it than any other branch
of knowledge and I am therefore desirous
of making our duplicates [tell?]
in the way of an early and liberal
distribution for scientific and educational
purposes.

In carrying out my policy in
regard to Natural History I am liable
to be misrepresented in the supposition
that I am opposed to the extension

        