My dear Commodore
I am much obliged to you for
the pamphlet on the Practical & Scientific
Value of the Specimens, which I am
reading with pleasure as well as instruction.
I hope you will find no difficulty in
securing a proper appreciation of you
work by Congress. As you have so large
a testimony to its worth now ab extra
and as Congress has got into the habit
of supporting it - a very important matter
[page 2]
custom and precedent then by common
sense, - I do not apprehend a baulk
to your progress in future, from want
of money. Besides, millions now have
got to be such common place
matters that a few thousands only
run the risk of being thought too
moderate. Till I hope that even
the smallness of the grant will not
be thought by our legislators to be
below the dignity of their notice and
that you will be allowed a share
of the crumbs that fall from the
rich man's table.
Give my love to the Admiral
[page 3]
and his wife and especially to his
daughter. I hope his shadow will
never be less.
I send you a letter of introduction
to my brother, who I am sure will
be happy to serve you.
Very truly
Yours
John P. Kennedy
Commodore Davis
John Pendleton Kennedy, former Whig Congressman and Secretary of the Navy under Fillmore; noted author of a memoir of William Wirt and the romantic novels Swallow Barn and Horse-Shoe Robinson. His brother was U.S. Senator Anthony Kennedy.
Commodore Davis: possibly Charles Henry Davis, founder of the Nautical Almanac and author of hydrographic studies; later in the year was promoted to Rear Admiral
MSS 6954-g
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