Publication InformationWashington Feb. 5 1854

Page 1

My very dear Mr Marsh

I received a few day ago through the kind mediation of our uncle Marcy, your good letters of Dec. 12--16, and have read and reread them with increasing interest, each perusal revealing some new item previously unnoticed, or correcting some former reading. Gilliss and I had a long consultation the other day over our letters, and were fairly bothered at one paragraph about Mary which I read as being a "pious fisherwoman," but which we finally concluded to be "precious penwoman," both perhaps applying well, the former as being the good wife of an ichthyologist, the latter as being handy with the quill Well I wont make fun of your handwriting,-- even if you have used the same quill without mending, since you have been in Europe, and its nib getting broader and broader each day--for your letters are glorious and mirth provoking, and soul inspiring, and greatly refreshing, and it is not for my own intrinsic merit that I have been gifted by providence with that wonderfully beautiful cheirography, which makes writing masters hang themselves for shear envy.

I wish you were here to talk over the thousand and one things that suggest themselves, and which can be so scantily represented on a letter. Every day brings something new. As to our Smithsonium, as Haldeman calls it, we are now in a state of uncertainty. I wrote you that a committee had been appointed to report whether the compromise should be abolished. This has not yet reported, nor have I heard that it has been called together. They will probably give the thing a thorough overhauling, but their decision is uncertain. This committee consists of Pearce, Bach, Totten, Mason, Maury, Choate. How they can report in favor of removing the restrictions in favor of the Library Museum, with the plain law before them, I cannot see: perhaps their vision is sharper than mine. The disturbances & anomalies of the

Smithsonian are being talked about a good deal and much opposition is manifested toward some of Prof. Henrys peculiar views, but which side will carry the day "Quien Sabe." In the present arrangement, the library & museum are to occupy jointly the large room of the lower story of the Main building, while the new lecture room goes into the middle of the splendid room up stairs, cutting this up, into one large apartment, and a small one adjacent on each side. The present lecture room is to be converted into a house for Professor Henry, so that the only space for collections will be the single room as aforesaid. So we go. The whole middle building will be finished in four or five months, and we shall breath freer with any additional accomodations. Our great lack will however be for office & work rooms.

There is earnest talk of constructing a great iron crystal Palace on the vacant square between the Smithsonian and the Monument, in which to place all the government collections, in Natural History & and to include the Patent office and its appurtenances. Whether this will go I cannot tell, but it is strongly backed. You shall however know whenever anything definite is done in reference to this or the other projects, in the mean time letting them make their own way to accomplishment

As to myself, it is unnecessary to say, that time does not hang heavily on my hands, with the regular Smithsonian business, and that of a hundred others besides. I cant pretend to tell a tithe to you, and must wait till you get back, which heaven grant, may be before very long. Natural History progresses amain, every day bringing in something new. Your specimens will be highly acceptable when they come. I cant quite make out the name of the vessel. Is it Hanna, or Huma, or Fluma or what. Write on this score as soon as you receive my letter.

My Polly is not very smart at present. She has with her my eldest sister, and has been obliged to matronise her around, winding up with a party

for her, of about 50 people. Ambitious to excel here as elsewhere, she rather overdid matters, and has been suffering with weak back ever since. I trust she will get over it before long however. We are not passing a very quiet winter at any rate, as our house has in a measure become a sort of rallying point for a number of young officers and other pleasant persons particularly since the visit of my sister. Still I make up for the interruption of evenings, by late sessions after they go.

Much obliged for the offer of a piece of St. Pauls cane, and of Mt. Etna, but I dont want any such trash. One thing you can do in Italy. We find very great difficulty in keeping up our exchange with this country, several years generally elapsing before we hear of our transmissions. Cannot you find out some reliable institution or even bookseller, in Rome, Leghorn, or other conveniently situated place to which we can send, and which will distribute to the various points of Italy, as well as receive ours in return. How well is Turin situated for this object. The Society there is industrious & probably willing to aid in this work. Whatever is done, should be in Prof. Henry's name, of course.

Dont scold about the blank page of my letters. I never write on the inside of a sheet. It is much less trouble to write as I do, and time is worth more than paper or even postage. I suppose you hear often from Gilliss. He is a good fellow, and my chief crony, ranking with Col. Toree. We often meet and always talk about you and Mrs. Marsh to whom give my warmest love. His report is progressing rapidly and will be a most important contribution. Goodby now. I am at the end of my sheet, or so near it that I wont have room for a postscript if one presents itself.

Ever yours affectionatelyS F Baird

Hon. Geo. P. Marsh.
Rome

References in this letter:

Democratic senator and New York governor, William Learned Marcy (1786-1857) was Secretary of War (1845-1849) under Polk and served as Secretary of State from 1853 to 1857 in Franklin Pierce's administration.

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.

The entomologist Samuel Stehman Haldemann (1812-1880) was professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Marsh sent him specimens from Constantinople.

James Alfred Pearce (1805-1862) Professor of law and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland, was appointed Smithsonian Regent in1847 and served through the 1861 term.

The geophysicist Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867) served as Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey from 1843 to 1867 and was one of the influential members of the Smithsonian Board of Regents from 1846 through the 1859 term.

A resident of Washington, DC, Joseph Gilbert Totten (1788-1864) served on the Smithsonian Board of Regents from 1846 through the 1857 term. A military engineer and surveyor, he was an original member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Peter Parley was the pseudonym of Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793-1860), the author of many children's books.

John Walker Maury (1809-1855) Mayor of Washington, DC and regent ex officio of the Smithsonian Board of Regents from 1852 to 1854.

Rufus Choate Choate and Marsh attended Dartmouth at the same time and remained close friends. Together they represented the faction that wanted to use James Smithson's bequest to establish a great public library. A U.S. Senator and member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, Choate (1799-1859) was Charles Coffin Jewett's principal sponsor. When Jewett was forced to leave, Choate submitted his own resignation, making his objections public. In the ensuing uproar a House select committee was formed to investigate Joseph Henry's administration but Henry was ultimately exonerated

Trained as a physicist, Joseph Henry (1797-1878) was professor of natural philosophy at Princeton University where he conducted original research on electricity and magnetism. When the Smithsonian Institution was created, he was chosen as its first Secretary. From 1846 to 1878 Henry established basic policies and defined the scope of the Smithsonian's activities.

Architect James Renwick, Jr. of New York designed the Smithsonian in Romanesque style. It was 447 feet long and 160 feet wide, with nine towers. By 1849 the east wing was habitable and the building was substantially completed in 1854; it was finished in 1857. In 1865, however, it was seriously damaged by fire and required extensive repairs.

The western most portion of the region now called the National Mall, bordered on the west by 14th street, on the north by Madison Drive, and on the south by Jefferson Drive.

Considered the premier American botanist of his day, John Torrey (1796-1873) was a professor of chemistry and botany. Plants collected on Smithsonian expeditions were routinely sent to him for description and classification. He and Baird were close friends.