Outgoing Correspondence from Robert Ridgway, January 20, 1869

              robert ridgway to david ridgway smithsonian institution washington d c january 20th 1869 my dear father i wrote to ma a few days ago and i believe i promised to write to you well i have a peice of news to tell you~mr king has owing to the small amount of money he will have next year been forced to drop the zoology and botany from the exploration i however continue under pay until the 1st of march from which time am free to act as i or rather as you desire-mr king has however offered me the following inducements = he will pay my way to salt lake city and back home = will give me my subsistence in the field and see my specimens which will be my own to washington 1 however to buy my own outfit and receive no salary from the survey = of which i will be entirely  independent—now i want you to tell me what you think i had better do = i am literally homesick and would like to collect at home next spring and summer I will do however just which you