Publication InformationBurlington April 20 1857

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Dear Baird

We want in our university a fit person to Chemistry & Natural Philosophy, to which he might add any fancy naturalistics he pleases. We are better off in funds than formerly, and can give him, all told, $1000 per annum, & can also put the departments in tolerable condition with respect to apparatus. We have about 100-120 students, & there is a small medical class besides.

Is Dr [Easton?] a fit man for our purpose, & would he accept, if he is? We want the very best man, at the very lowest rate. He must be not a mere chemist, statist & such like, but a man of liberal sympathies with knowledge, & scholastic enough in his tastes to be willing to become one of the Faculty in matters of discipline as well as instruction. We would have him also a man of right moral views & impulses, and if not religious, at least not anti-religious, in his feelings and opinions.

These are but moderate requirements you perceive, but I fear we shall not compass them for $1000 per annum. If Dr E. can't or won't be Professor, or is not fit for the station, who can, should, & will ?-----

Mrs Marsh has suffered much for the last three weeks with aggravations of her old complaints, besides some new ones. But she keeps her courage up, & writes steadily when she can have an amanuensis -- She has done a great deal the past winter in translations from Swedish & German as well as in original poetizing, & as I think with great success.

I hope you & Mary will come North this summer, & that we may meet you somehow & somewhere. Don't forget to let

me pay you the freight on the brimstone. I expect more this summer, & you shall have the first pick.

Yours trulyG. P. Marsh

Prof. Baird.