Publication InformationWashington July 2' 1853

Page 1

My Dearest Mr. M.

I have had a long letter to you in my mind for an age, and it has been interfered with by so many causes that I fear I shall only be able to cancel my obligations by a few paragraphs of odds and ends. I have happily got through the special work of the Spring, in the way of foreign exchanges & and am now busy in arranging for a run out west. I leave in a few days for Ohio, Michigan & Wisconsin, and after remaining a month, return to Lake Champlain to join Mary. How I wish I could hope to see you there, as of old.

The work of this Spring has been unusually heavy, though I have stood it better than ever before being now in perfect health and condition. I might tell you of the tons of packages, made up and sent off, but I do not wish to tire you with the details Suffice it to say that I have as heretofore sent the Greece, Turkey, & Egyptian parcels to you for distribution, and shall forward through State Dep. Letters to accompany the packages, which themselves go in a box to your address through Yasigi & Goddard.

My exploring expeditions, too, are all off, which is a great relief: I will try and send you an account of these in an article which I am preparing for the Meeting of the American Association at Cleveland July 28: I have had in all, no less than nineteen, to equip and fit in a Natural History point of view. You ask who is to describe nondescripts, and what is to be done with the things when they come in. That is not my particular business now; my duty is to see that no chances are lost of advancing science, leaving the future to take care of myself. And indeed I expect the accumulation of a large mass of matter thus collected, which this Institution cannot or will not "curate" efficiently, to have the

effect of forcing our government into establishing a National Museum, of which (let me whisper it) hope to be director. Still even if this arguement don't weigh now, it will one of these days, and I am content to wait.

Most of the expeditions have left in my hands, sums amounting in the aggregate to nearly ten thousand dollars to pay cost of transportation of specimens, and their preparation for publication. I can thus have first rate figures made of the different species, which will supply a great desideration.

I forgot to mention that we sent vols. 2-5 of Smithsonian Contributions to the Museo Civico, of Milan, in accordance with your suggestion.

The work of Mr. Peters is a very desirable , and I think it very likely that the Smithsonian would publish it if in English, and perhaps even have it translated--if good for as much as you suppose.

I hear no talk of your being turned out; not even any newspaper candidates for the succession. This makes me hope that you are to hold on for a time at least. I wrote you, I think, the assurance of Mr. Bingham a stiff Vermont Democrat, that you were to remain for a time at least, and if I mistake not Mr. Smalley of Burlington, said the same. Still there is no certainty in the matter, but you can hope for the best.

I believe, I must now stop as I am getting very sleepy: this is the fifteenth letter I have written this evening, and the 1060 this year. Mary has however given all the news, which makes my scraps less necessary. Hoping to hear some from you and with the warmest love to dear Mrs. Marsh I remain

Most affectionately YoursS. F. Baird.

Hon. Geo. P. Marsh,
Constantinople

References in this letter:

A Boston shipping company.

The first national scientific body in the United States, the American Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in 1848.

In 1847 Joseph Henry proposed a publishing program for the Smithsonian Institution to honor Smithson's bequest for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. In 1849, the first volume, edited by Marsh, was published in a series called "Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge." This volume was distributed to 173 foreign institutions and marked the beginning of the Smithsonian's exchange network. Subsequent monographs were based on original scientific work sponsored by the Smithsonian and on Smithsonian collections. The series was apparently conceived as part of a larger series called "Transactions of the Institution."

From 1853 to 1857, William Henry Harrison Bingham (1813-1894) was a U. S. Pension Agent. He was a leading Democrat in Vermont and an unsuccessful candidate for the governorship and U.S. House.

David A. Smalley (1809-1877) was well-regarded lawyer and leader in the Vermont Democratic Party. He served as judge in the U.S. District Court from 1856 until his death.