Letter from SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD to GEORGE PERKINS MARSH, dated July 8, 1859.
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My Dear Mr. Marsh
You will find insect pins at C. F. Henricks, on Broadway-name in directory. They are not the best, but will answer
If ether wont kill, try chloroform. A solution of Cyanide or Potassium will certainly fetch the varmins
We look forward to meeting you and Mrs. Marsh as one of the incidents of the summers trip. How sorry we are to hear of Mrs. M. ill health.
We leave for Philada. on the 20': go to New York about the 28th or 29'. Mary then to
[...] and I to
Springfield. If you stay long enough in N York you can go on
under M's wing!
I will give Gilliss your message
Affectionately yoursS. F. Baird
Hon Geo P Marsh
Burlington
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.