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[[stamp]] SMITHSONIAN 4805 Nov 6 1864 INSTITUTION [[/stamp]] [[preprinted]] COLLINS' OVERLAND TELEGRAPH, WESTERN UNION EXTENSION, VIA BEHRING STRAITS. [[/preprinted]] New York, Nov 5th 1864 Prof. Spencer F Baird Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC Dear Sir, Yours of Oct 30th. rec'd. I have been away from the city. Mr Thomson would no doubt be a useful man and I will pay him Thirty Dollars per month giving him a fair opportunity to make the collections he desires; transportation will be furnished him to San Francisco either around Cape Horn or via Isthmus and he may join me at any time before March 15th. The Russian gentleman I will pay Seventy five Dollars per month to accompany me; but think the most valuable service he can render us is that in which he is now engaged; please keep him at that as long as you deem advisable, and you will do us great service by employing any person to collect information that will in