This was followed, on February 11, by a cordial letter from Audubon, in which he said:
I am quite convinced myself that no one can easily be found so well adapted for such a trust as yourself and if my testimoney as to your knowledge and high character and industry, and your zeal in seeking a perfect acquaintance with the various branches of Natural History, and all the scientific and literary pursuits which have heretofore occupied you, may be of any service, please present this note to the Honorable Board of Regents, who I trust will receive it as an evidence of my ardent desire for your success, the more readily as I have the honor, I think, of knowing some of the Board personally.
Spencer Fullerton Baird's subsequent career, following his appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in July, 1850, as successor to Professor Henry, its first Secretary, as the organizer of the United States National Museum and the Fish Commission, now the Bureau of Fisheries, as one of the ablest students of birds and fishes which the country has ever produced, as well as the friend of science and scientific men everywhere, is now well known, and has been ably set forth by his most recent biographer.[216]
JOHN W. AUDUBON'S INSCRIPTION IN A COPY OF VOLUME I OF THE TEXT OF THE "QUADRUPEDS" (ENGLISH EDITION) PRESENTED TO JOHN E. GRAY.
John W. Audubon spent the winter of 1846-47 in London, where he was engaged in painting subjects for his father's work on the Quadrupeds. While he was there, arrangements were made for the publication in that city of the first volume of the letterpress; this appeared in May, 1847,[217] closely following the American edition of the previous year, and it was the only European issue of the text of that work. At this time also John Audubon made the acquaintance of the distinguished zoölogist, John Edward Gray, then in charge of the great collections which were being brought together under his direction at the British Museum. Gray was asked to furnish descriptions of the animals which the younger Audubon had painted, but, as will appear from the following letter, he declined:[218]
AUDUBON