Publication InformationBurlington Mch 6 60

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Dear Baird

I'm glad you've got the books. I began another one this morning, and wrote 11 pages. I won't tell you what it is about, because you'll call me an ass, (it's none of your ), and I don't want you to do so rash a thing, as to pronounce judgement before you've seen the book and it. [...] which you may do about the 4'- of July next. When you read it you may call me as hard names as you please. I shan't mind it.

Now, the purpose of this epistle is to say that

whereas, the Smithsonian sent me a circular, and no doubt a for 1858, I never got the book. Reason, why? Why because both circular and book were sent to New York, and though the letter was forwarded, the book wasn't, and it is as impossible to get a document out of the N.Y. post-office, as it is to get a sinner out of purgatory without the Pope's leave.

Not that I want the book for myself. Mercy come up! I've got it now, from a congressman, but that is neither here nor there. I want it for a little girl there is here. She hath expectations, but is wise enough to think it better

to know something then not to know anything. So for years she has diligently, patiently, and perserveringly, studied entomology, and made good progress therein. So I want the Report for her.

You needn't answer this When I see No 579, I am sorry for you, and when anybody asks you to write a , I advise you to alone! What a fine pun! Did you ever! Well, I wish you much luck and fewer correspondents. Love to Mary. I bid you farewell.

Yours trulyGeo. P. Marsh

Prof. Baird

References in this letter:

George Perkins Marsh. Man and Nature; or, Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action. New York: Scribners/ London: Low & Marston, 1864; revised and enlarged as The Earth as Modified by Human Action. New York: Scribners/ London: Sampson, 1874; revised, New York: Scribners, 1885.

Baird was a prodigious letter writer and numbered each letter in the upper left hand corner.