Transcribe Baird, Spencer Fullerton. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1876-03-04)

nwh International Exhibition, 1876 BOARD ON BEHALF OF U. S. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS National Museum: Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Marsh 4, 187 6</em> Dear Professor,

      At present my appropriation will

not permit me to pay any thing on the skele -tons you have prepared; but I have strong hopes of an additional appropriation before long, & will then settle up.

       I do not think I care to have the

whales bones very white. A slight tinge of oil will not affect them, if they are only clean & free from a rancid smell.

       From present indications I hardly think

I shall have some room to exhibit much in the way of the skulls or skeletons of whales, & you can therefore take the usual course in preparing them. If we need them they can be sent directly to Philadelphia.

       I have had an offer of the loan of the whale

you sold to Evanston, but hardly know whether I can exhibit it. Prof. H. A. Ward Yours Truly Rochester Spencer F Baird N. Y.