Transcribe Lucas, Frederic A. (Frederic Augustus). Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-04-11)

                                         Washington, D. C. Apr 11/13
                                                                           "   15

Dear Prof. Ward,

   I was at the Surgeon Generals office

and the situation of Anatomist at the Army Medical Museum is open to me, provided satisfactory arrange- ments can be made at the U.S.N.M. What I prefer to do is to endeavor to use this offer to receive a raise of salary at the U.S.N.M., if not to endeavor to effect a transfer. The change will not be made until July 1 so there is some little time. One of my ideas is to turn over my present place to DeKempeneer, failing him to Gueret with your permission, If I stay at the U.S.N.M. I fear neither De.K. nor G. would do for the Army Mus. Now I shall perhaps shock you but can you give Bailly to the Army Mus. and take DeKempeneer in his place? Bailly as you well know is discontented, and distrustful of you, and as I told you at the time wrote long ago asking me to find him a place. He would bless me for getting him a $1,600. ( it is </u not $1,800. >) place and curse me to all eternity if he knew I could have done so and did not. It looks to me as if I was bound to offend somebody whichever way I turned. I shall see Prof Baird and lay the case before him, at the same time explaining my dissatisfaction with some things at the U.S.N.M. not calling names. I have been here nearly a year, all the time doing dis- ultory work and at times almost running out of it entirely, simply because True is about as much fit