Publication InformationWoodstock Oct 13 56

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Dear Spencer

I am as much ashamed to write you as the was to see the doctor because he had not been sick for a year. I told you I would write as soon as I got home, & I meant to do so, but the cares of this world sprang up & choaked that good purpose. Well, I am glad to hear from you, & particularly to hear that Mary is comfortable, Gilliss, by the way, says he thinks she looks in better health than for a long time. I want to her to get just well enough to write letters & stay there a good while, verily, if I could write such epistles as hers, I never would do anything else. Prof Rafn writes he has sent me some things through the Smith. I.

Please keep them till I come, which will be about the time the wildgeese go to the South. Mrs Marsh [...] & I not here a week ago. She has been worse than usual for a month, & I fear cannot go to Washington this winter. She certainly will not make the effort, unless Col. F. is elected, but in that event will go if possible.

I am delivering agric. discourses for a living. I have said two, & have two more to come off, one this & one next week, the latter at Portland. I suppose you must have your hands full of work, and hope you find King Solomon as helpful as ever.

Well, we wish you peace & plenty.

Farewell,Yours trulyG P Marsh

Prf Baird

References in this letter:

James Melville Gilliss (1811-1865) was both a naval officer and astronomer. He was responsible for proposing and supervising the building of Naval Observatory in Washington, DC (1842-1844). In 1846 he was assigned to the U.S. Coast Survey and spent several years in Chile conducting astronomical observations. The Gilliss family, based in Washington, became close friends of the Marshes and the Bairds.

Danish linguist and antiquary, Carl Christian Rafn (1795-1864), introduced Marsh to Scandinavian languages and literature and encouraged him in his translations and writing. The two men corresponded until Rafn's death.