Letter from SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD to GEORGE PERKINS MARSH, dated March 28, 1879.
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My Dear Mr Marsh,
May I congratulate you upon the marked improvement in your chirography, your letter of the 28 of February being singularly legible, even at the first effort, not requiring at any pont the use of a lens or a conference with Mrs Baird & Lucy!
The lecture of Mr Waldstein would, I have no doubt be an acceptable contribution to the lyceum; but would hardly come within the scope of the Smithsonian publications, it being neither an original articles as a contribution to knowledge, nor an authoritative summation of the present state of our information, respecting some branch of physical or natural science. I think, however, that D. Appleton & Co. or some other firm would be quite willing to print it.
Matters are moving along with us much as usual. Mrs Baird is at present suffering
under
a
severe cold, but not seriously ill. We see the Edmunds very
often & value our proximity to them very highly. You are doubtless aware
that we are living now on the same terrace.
I find my work at the Smithsonian not particularly onerous excepting that a great amount of time is consumed in seeing visitors; & I am obliged to resort to every possible dodge to avoid the crowd & filter it, so as to see only those whom it is important that I should meet.
Congress was very liberal, both to the National Museum & to the Fish Commission at the last session. We have at last an appropriation of $250,000 to erect a new Museum building, which we intend shall be a model, even at that price.
I have also received appropriations amounting to about $130,000 for purposes connected with the Fish Commission, including $45,000 for a floating steam hatching house. Last winter I entered very successfully upon the artificial production & propagation of codfish, hatching with very inadequate facilities about ten or twelve millions.
You are probably aware of the action of Congress in regard to the geological surveys.
The whole business was consolidated into a general bureau of the Interior Department, with a head to be nominated by the President, to have a salary of six thousand dollars. The nomination of Clarence King is now pending before the Senate, & it is not certain how it will be decided.
With love from all of us to yourself & Mrs Marsh, I remain,
Sincerely Yours,Spencer F. BairdHon. Geo. P. Marsh.U.S. Minister.Rome,Italy.
References in this letter:
Charles Waldstein, later known as Sir Charles Walston (1856-1927), published many studies of classical antiquity and art.
George Franklin Edmunds (1828-1919) began his career practicing law in Burlington. He served in the Vermont State House of Representatives and in the State Senate. In 1866 he was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican to fill the vacancy caused by Solomon Foot's death and served for four terms. He resigned in 1891. Edmunds was married to Susan Edmunds, the daughter of Marsh's sister and Wyllys Lyman, his Burlington friend.
In the 1860s Baird had became concerned about the decline of Atlantic fish populations. In a 1870 report to the House Committee on Appropriations he suggested the appointment of a Fish Commissioner to direct research into the problem. President Grant appointed Baird the first director of the newly formed U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries in 1871.
The geologist Clarence Rivers King (1842-1901) led the U.S. Geological Exploration of the 40thParallel and was first director of the U.S. Geological Survey (1879-1881).