Letter from GEORGE PERKINS MARSH to SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD, dated July 13, 1860.
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Dear Baird
My library is a small brick building with one low chimney. It has a tinned roof, with
tin gutter disconnected from roof & supported by iron, hooks driven into a
tinned cornice. There is a conductor running down to within 4 feet of the ground.
The chimney has an iron smoke cap secured by copper-wire twisted around nails driven
into the chimney inside, a foot below top. When I put up my lightning -rod, shall I
connect it with the tin of the roof, and the iron smoke-cap, or insulate it from
them? Shall I connect the tin water-spout with the
ground by wire or the like,
or not. Ask Prof. Henry, and answer this in one or two words,
as ; or . That is enough. A wink is
as good as a nod to a blind horse. Give Mary my love, Thine
G P Marsh
Prof Baird
References in this letter:
Trained as a physicist, Joseph Henry (1797-1878) was professor of natural philosophy at Princeton University where he conducted original research on electricity and magnetism. When the Smithsonian Institution was created, he was chosen as its first Secretary. From 1846 to 1878 Henry established basic policies and defined the scope of the Smithsonian's activities.