Publication InformationBurlington May 10 1860

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Dear Baird

I am ashamed of the offence I am going to commit, and I ask your pardon in advance. I know you have things enough to do without being pestered by a wild man up in Vermont, but what shall I do? I am writing seven books, each in seven quarto volumes, all to be finished in seven weeks from this date, and I want to steal all I

can to fill up with, for which purpose I want all my books at the Smithsonian, together with certain packages which Gilliss will send you from his house. I believe you wrote me they were boxed. I am glad if that job is over, but if there is anything unpacked, please let the be as few as may be in regard that Express men charge by the , and their consciences are like paxwax, ( I don't suppose you know the etymology of paxwax. No more do I, but it resembles the Spanish pescoro, and may be it is the same word)

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I think you told me once there was some cheaper way, half express & half not. Well send them any good route that won't take forever -- Also, let me know cost of boxes, nails, broken hammers, waste paper, torn book-binders cuttings, hay straw and stubble used in packing, and cartage, and everything else. Verily, I will repay the same.

I am very glad the war folks have adopted the General's book. I am visitor at West Point this year, which gives me the title of Marshal, I think it is, and of course I outrank

the General.
Mrs Marsh is so so and send love.

Yours trulyG P Marsh

Prof Baird

References in this letter:

In 1849, belfore leaving for his post as U. S. Minister to Turkey, Marsh sold part of his library and collection of prints to the Smilthsonian Institution. The books are in the Library of Congress while the prints remain at the Smithsonian. During his years as ambassador to Italy, Marsh amassed another great collection of books, maps and periodicals. This was purchased by Frederick Billings who donated it to the University of Vermont; it is now in the Special Collections Department at the Bailey-Howe Library.

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.