RK-558

820

Red River Settlement July 14th 1858

My Dear Sir:

Your much esteemed favor of May 18th came to hand by the mail of last Month. I had much pleasure in learning from it that You were well and that you had not forgotten your friends in the far north. The only letter before that last which I received from you was dated 9th Nov. last. which I consider to be your first letter - to which I returned an answer either by the Febry or March Mail. which I think by the tenor of your last letter you had not not received when you had penned that epistle

Prof. Baird in his communication has spoken more highly of my mean collection than I had any reason to expect. Yet, I can enter, some what, into his feelings on his finding a few more specimens of these little quadrupeds. Shrews. and Mice, which he had so long been desirous of obtaining. a know ledge of which is so requisite for the accomplish ment of that great work in which you say in your letter that he is at present engaged -

This winter we have succeeded in getting eight or nine Shrews consisting of four if not five Varieties. We have also secured a number of Wood peckers; and some winter residents of lesser note. I hope some of them will prove new at Washington. My Collection was too small to divide and as you and Prof. Baird are inspired with a Congenial spirit on the great importance of the work in which that learned Gentleman is engaged - I have some reason to believe that you will rest satisfied with my decision. I have, however, desired the prof. to share with you - I am endeavouring to Collect insects; I am sorry to say. that I cannot boast of any great success - I am rather clumsy in bundling these delicate Creatures. Yet ,I am Cheered by the hope that, I may find a few new subjects - should such consist; but of a few beettles, wood lice, moths, Butterflies, or something hitherto unknown to the ardent sons of science -

Prof. Baird in one of his letters informed me that you had been occupied during the Winter in arranging your collection and

the results had been highly interesting I deeply regret that, Circumstances will not permit your coming here this season Your Company for some weeks would be very pleasing to myself and to all the family, and the result of your researches in this vicinity could not fail being highly inter esting to all lovers of the Natural Science. I am glad you did not forward the ornithology by mail as Books by that conveyance are unreasonably dear, and much of what has been heretofore sent by Mail. remains at Crow Wing - but We expect all up by the present trip - as the mail Carriers have taken a Cart. for the purpose of Carry ing the Mail - The Chicago paper which you forwarded has come pretty regularly. And as it is not in my power to make you any other returns. I beg of you to accept my thanks for your very great Kindness in favoring us with so Valuable a paper. I also received a copy of the patent office report. from some unknown hand; a copy of the quadrupeds of Illinois &c &c. by R Kennicott a lot of Smithsonian Institution directions for Collecting and preserving Specimens -

You speak of Books which you forwarded during the winter. none of these came to hand but I shall look out for them by the the return of our Red River Carts - If your Alcohol comes I will, if spared in life and health, send you by the Carts of next summer lots of our [illegible] but I cannot get on with small fish for want want of a seine to take them with. perhaps you might be able to send me one to meet the Carts, in September, at Crow Wing - The prof. sent two Gall of alcohol last fall by Cavalier's people. the Can lost the label and Cavalier handed the alcohol to W McTavish, and, that Gentleman sent it to the North West Corner of Hudson's Bay. I hope he is collecting for you - and that something new will be got from Fort Prince of Wales -

In my former letter I requested alittle sor =ghum, and Hungarian Millet Seed. please send a few grains of each by some future opportunity - as I am desirous of trying these plants in our Northern Climate. I am of opinion the millet ought to thrive The Sorghum will grow, but may not Mature - . I have ever been looking out for fosil bones and teeth, but never had the good fortune to find any. However. I am of opinion. from Indian traditions, that some

large creatures inhabited this land in the times of old. thus bones will come to light in time to come, [illegible]. Nothing of the kind has not yet been found, except a bone or two of Gigantic dimensions which were found about forty years ago in a branch of [illegible] River - Will the shells and other remains found in our limestone be of any interest to your Collection, if so, please let me know.

The Gentlemen connected with the Survey =ing party from Canada passed the winter here and run a line for a road from Fort Garry to the nearest part of the Lake of the woods. a distance of 83 Miles. In the months of May and June they extended their exploration to the [illegible - do they mean Saskatchewan?]. they returned by the Assunboine[?] River; the Country abounds in both Coal and Iron, particularly, on the Swan and Assimboine[?] Rivers. and they report the whole Country as incomparable in fertility - Another party came from Canada in the Spring and: have left a month ago. they went up the Assinreiboine[?]. and are to trace the Souri[?] River