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8178

San Francisco June 15, 1866

Dear Prof. Baird -

Your telegram reached me last night having been 4 days on the way. I have telegraphed for more information for Kennicotts sake  I hope as usual in such cases that the damage is over estimated; and I know that there was some insurance; so that while appreciating the worst, I hope for the best. My own library and collections small but valuable, and probably in regard to books the best in the West, conchologically speaking, has I presume gone up the spout. If it was the only loss I should be well satisfied. It will only nerve us to greater exertions to [[underlined]] replace [/underlined]] what before we might only have [[underlined]] duplicated. [/underlined]] I send a newspaper clipping with the lies underlined. Also a sketch of an operculum which please forward to Carpenter when you write. I sent by mail the type of a new species of Helix, of which drawings and descriptions have been sent to Tryon. Nearly all the members of the Survey have gone into