Letter from SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD to GEORGE PERKINS MARSH, dated October 15, 1854.
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My Dear Mr. Marsh
I often feel inclined to ask myself whether our interview in New York last month was a dream or reality, the whole passed by so like a flash. I shall not believe that you are actually on the same continent, until I have your own assurance to that effect.
After leaving Sing Sing, Mary and I went to Philadelphia, and thence to Carlisle, where she now is. She is not improving as rapidly as I could hope; as much so perhaps as is to be expected. Her Sing Sing visit did her harm on account of the constant excitement in the house full of Savannah families. At Carlisle she promised to do better, but her last letters were not so encouraging, and unless the bulletins are more favorable, I shall go up in a day or two. She expected to be back here within about ten days of the present time.
You cannot imagine with what pleasure we talk over the prospect of having you in
Washington this winter. No medicine will do Mary half so much good as the sight of
you two. If we were keeping house
Gilliss could not
have his won way so readily about your staying with him. Perhaps I will try a fight
for you any way.
As you may suppose I am hard at work clearing away the accumulations of the last three months of absence. I am getting things pretty well into shape. The Government Collections in Natural History are of huge dimensions. Would you not like to undertake some monograph, to write up: you shall have your choice. Snakes, fish, frogs, skeletons, anything you chose. I wont trouble you with long accounts of doings now, but will have near that pleasure in showing everything when you come.
I have not yet unpacked the keg, but shall do it in a few days when some jars arrive which have been ordered.
With warmest love to Mrs. M. I remainTruly yoursS. F. Baird
Hon. Geo. P. Marsh
Burlington
Vt
References in this letter:
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.