RK-730

[calculations penciled in] 6) 800 (133 6 20 6 18 798

Hazlitt (a new P.O.) Rock Island Co Ills Feb 1 1859

Friend Robert Kennicott

I received your printed letter mailed at the Grove. West Northfield Ill. in due time, and immediately wrote our State Repres-entative agreeably to your request. I earnestly hope that a thorough and complete survey of our noble state will be made at once. The Geological & Zoolog ical examinations will be made soon I hope. We should not be behind any other state in any good work

I can not inform you what action our Legislation has taken on the subjcet. You undoubtedly are well informed by others. Your Father writes me that his health has much improved during the past season and that he is ready for active service. I regret very much that he was not elected eithe as Pres or Cor Secy of our State Agrl Society. But it will I trust all work out right. I am happy to be informed that he was selected as one of the Hon. councellers at the meeting or convention at Washington last month and is now where he can exert an influence in the board of our National Agl Society as one of th directors

I live all alone on th border of the state where I can exert but little influence only with my pen, and that I use quite often -

[page turned, written over several lines] Ansd

Occasionally I get a few words to read of th reports Essays &c of or from th Smithsonian Insti -tute. I am gready for information on all subjects touching Agriculture. let it come in any form

In particular such publications as touch upon our climate. Winds Tides Climateoloy. Geology and in fact any & evry thing in natural science.

How to obtain this information I do not know Now I ask you, as you are on the spot if you can procure without cost. such books pamphlets and reports as will be instructive to me & my family of boys to read. And if you can get them to me also without cost. I have but few Patent office Reports and still less knowledge of the reports from th Smithsonian's Institute. Is there a published report by th United States Agricultural Society, if so can I get [letters crossed out] a copy and how. I am acting President of Rock Island Co Agrl socy for th currant year

I hope your are well & happy

Very Respectfully

Clinton. G. Taylor

This man holds about the same relation to Ccientific Agriculture, that "C. Thomas" does to Natural History - only Thomas is the best writer of the two -