RK-496

Evanston March 16th. 1858

Dear Bob:

Your letter to Dr Evans under date of March 3d is before me, and by request of Dr E. & Dr Foster, I reply and send you herewith a plan and measurements of the room or rooms proposed to be used temporarily as a Museum room for the N. W. University. It is proposed to give you one or two rooms; as may be required and proceed immediately to fit them up on arrival of plans to be sent by you to Dr Evans or myself. The rooms are on the first floor of the building now used by the University on the West side of the Main entrance hall – the plan on accompanying sheet will give you an idea of the position of the windows & doors and of the wall

unoccupied & against which cases may be placed –

The height of the rooms is 11 feet 10 inches. The south Room is 19 x 17 feet " north " " 23 x 17 "

If you require both rooms, & wish it, a door can be opened between the rooms in the partition between them -

In the plan the windows & doors are marked of such width as to include the frames, and the interspaces are clear wall spaces for cases –

In sending on direction for the cases be as specific as possible in dimensions & and description of the kind of case for each space in the room. The position of the windows will show you how to arrange for light to show your specimens – It is very desirable that the Museum should be arranged by the first week in June that the Trustees at their annual meeting may be properly impressed with the amount of work done by you in the past year and the importance of continuing

your labors in the same direction –

Dr Evans requests me to ask you what further amount of money you will need to enable you to continue in Washington until May 1st? Write to him & me both in regard to this as soon as possible –

I recd Prof. Bairds communication for which please thank him, and say that I have been absent from home and shall be again this week & will try & answer him on my return. I am much pleased with his account of your labors & their results – and feel very grateful to him for the Assistance he has given you & the kindness shown to you, which I doubt not you have endeavoured to deserve –

Few young men have enjoyed such advantages so early in their scientific career -

I shall either enclose with this, or send in a day or two a formal application to the Regents of the the Smithsonian Institute for their publications, signed by the Presdt[?] of the Board of Trustees & the Faculty –

I have kept this open to enclose the application for books, but not being able to get Dr Evans signature as he was in town I will not delay this longer – Write me soon and as often as you have leisure Present my kindest regards to Prof Baird & Prof Henry in both of which as well as to yourself Mrs Blaney would desire to join me –

Ever yours truly Jas[?] V Z[?] Blaney[?]

To Robt Kennicott care of Prof S. F. Baird Smithsonian Institute Washington City D. C.