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[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. [written] Feb 4th [printed] 18 [written] 58 Thursday
Dear Major;
Where is “Das Deutches Brief” I was to have recieved? If that is not to be had pray write in vulgar English.
I have been having a good time among the shells with Mr Binny who is now here for a few days – Binny is a brick and is going to give me a large collection of shells. Lea the big Conchologist will be here this week and then Ill pitch into our river shells. I will have an immense collection at the North western and twill take me all summer to get them in order the whole in order – Shall probably be at Evanston most of next summer.
Our old club we dissolved last Sunday night and I am now boarding at a washington Boarding house a very confounded stupid melancholy sort of a place where we dont have a single good laugh at all But we are going to make a new arrangement and dine together in the old style next week – My liver is getting disordered – doubtless for want of the accustomed laugh and long dinner and consequent good digestion.
Tell father I called on Mr Trumbull last night – he was polite to me – said he most certainly sent those books to father
[page turned, stamped] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections
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And n – “The old Doctor who writes on agriculture” and not to Uncle Deacon whom he does not know – He said he wrote to father – I attend a party at his house tomorrow night. Farnsworth is to give the books I want for the university and Chicago Academy and Robt Smith gives me a copy for myself – I want to get another copy for Dodge, Charlie and if possible for you – that is of the three next volumes of Pacific R. R. Survey which contains the big book on mammals birds & reptiles. The former numbers cant be had and I wish father to be sure and claims those Deacon has for I want the Botany to be within my reach.
Medicine and Latin are below par with me now. – snakes and mammals very active “brisk” as Frank says in‘t market report. I count on furnishing the Parlor next spring sane.
My plan is to study for the next year rather than collect! I will thus earn more mony in fact and please the University folk better as twill be less expensive. Ill show you wonderous and beautiful beasties I wot. I am going to have a road cut across from Evanston to The Grove so that I can spend part of each week at home and the rest of the time work at the Museum – What will you take in cash for the use of “Cracky” or “Jenks” next
[page turned] summer? [strikethrough] I must write to grandmother but want to write her a good long letter when I do write – I trust mother wastes no sorrow on me – am living in clover as soon as I get to the jolly old dinners again – go to see the girls when I like and hear some very good music Love to all not forgetting the Boyden – - Bob
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wrote over a page of matter (printed) last night and copied the M. S. for press – that is $5.! Just blackguard some of those who laughed at Bob’s bugology for me please – Tell ‘em Mother will yet show more than spoons & forks gotten by bugology – Naturalists are going up! over
