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Chicago. Dec 29, 1858
Dear Bob,
It is out of the question to think of raising the money for those shells in the present financial distress. I have not yet succeeded even for the bottles, I cant even collect the dollar tax ex all around. Evans begs off from month to month the last $50. of his subscription. Freer ditto: the lectures wo are pecuniarily of no account, & Alport is not ready to pay for the insects yet. Davis cant for the life of him pay the balance of his subscription. Donations at present are
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not to be obtained. I will try a little more, but I suspect we may have to put off even the bottles till spring. I have'ing been delaying to write thus far hoping to have better news but in vain.
I think you do not understand the severity of the money distress here. I tell you it is a triumph for the society to have lives and increases its home operations & memberships in a during such a crash. If Baird dont appreciate the severity of the effort, nor the evidence it affords of vitality, why let him go to grass, we will do as well as we can without
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his help. I am sorry to lose his confidence from the enterprize, but if he is unreasonable it cant be helped, the Academy is going to live & succeed & flourish whether he favors it or not. I have found a firstrate mineralogist, & a good lepidopterist. Also Daniels lectures promise to start on the track a grist of young geoligists who are already practicing in the Archer road quarry. By the way that quarry is exceedingly rich in fossils.
Mrs A sends love.
Yours truly E. Andrews