Publication InformationWashington, D.C. May 21, 1870.

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My Dear Mr Marsh.

I have been of half a mind not to answer a letter addressed so formally as to "Mr & Mrs Baird," neither of us knowing what we have been doing to merit such treatment at you hands. We are not accustomed to being called by such opprobrious names by our friends; & I trust that if you care to keep up our correspondence you will take heed to your ways in that respect.

I hope you will succeed in bringing the Italian Ministry to their senses in regard to the Smithsonian transmissions, & at the same time get them to reimburse the sums we have already paid them for duties.

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We are now making up our annual sendings for the year, & shall probably have a dozen large boxes for Italy, including the publications of the American learned Societies, all of which will be kept here with the boxes of last year until the matter at issue is settled in a proper manner.

The box of public documents for yourself, was forwarded to Edgar Irving, dispatch agent in N. York, who promises that it shall be at once transmitted to you, & I hope you will get it before this letter reaches you.

We have had great satisfaction in the companionship of Mrs Edmunds & Miss Crane; indeed they are almost our only associates at the present time. They probably have written to you of the pleasant little Club meetings we have alternately at our respective houses. We have just succeeded in securing

rooms for them at Wood's Hole, where we ourselves expect to go for the Summer, & with the expectation of hiring a yacht together, so as to go sailing through Vineyard Sound, around Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket, etc.; thus having a jolly time in prospect before us, if nothing occurs to dampen our anticipations. I wish you were here, & Mrs Marsh, to take part in the performances.

Many thanks for the photographs, which were extremely acceptable, as also the autographs, likewise the postage stamps. We were more pleased at your remembrance of us so kindly than by the articles themselves. "" (!) has been quite indisposed for several weeks, but I trust will soon be about. She joins with me & Lucy in sending a great deal of love to yourself & Mrs Marsh.

Sincerely Yours,Spencer F Baird

Hon. Geo. P. Marsh,
U.S. Minister,
Florence.

References in this letter:

Susan Edmunds was Marsh's niece and the wife of Senator George Franklin Edwards.

Carrie Marsh Crane, Caroline Marsh's niece, daughter of her brother Thomas, accompanied the Marshs for a number of years during his tenure as minister to Italy. She died in a shipwreck in 1874.