Letter from SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD to GEORGE PERKINS MARSH, dated June 4, 1877.
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Dear Mr Marsh.
The books, advised in your recent letter, have not come to hand, but I suppose they will be here soon.
The State Department is "slow & sure" in its doings. It is not a matter of much consequence to us, of course, whether Italy accepts the handsome donation that we propose to make to her, or not. It is a short-sighted policy, however, to decline.
The work on mineralogy, which you kindly sent us, was noticed in Silliman's Journal as a work of great merit.
Nothing specially new here, except our responsibility with the Centennial accumulations. We hope to get a new building from Congress at the next session.
We are about packing up to go to Salem for the Summer, perhaps thence to Halifax, to be in attendance on the Fishery Commissions.
Very truly Yours.Spencer F BairdHon. Geo. P. Marsh.Rome,Italy.
References in this letter:
The international exhibition to celebrate the centennial of American independence was held in Philadelphia. Many items displayed in the exhibits were brought back to Washington, significantly increasing Smithsonian holdings.
Professor of chemistry and natural history at Yale College, Benjamin Silliman (1779-1844) played an important role in encouraging scientific studies in 19th century America. In 1818 he founded and edited the American Journal of Science and Arts, commonly known as Silliman's Journal of Science.
In the 1860s Baird had became concerned about the decline of Atlantic fish populations. In a 1870 report to the House Committee on Appropriations he suggested the appointment of a Fish Commissioner to direct research into the problem. President Grant appointed Baird the first director of the newly formed U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries in 1871.