THE YOUNG PROFESSOR 165 



When the question of the curatorship of the Smith- 

 sonian collection arose Mrs. Baird wrote to Mr. Marsh, 

 who was one of the Board of Regents of the Institution 

 and distinguished as a man of culture and wide influence 

 among public men without being himself a politician. 

 He was then a representative in Congress. 



The following letter was received in reply: 



From George P. Marsh to Mrs. S. F. Baird. 



WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1847. 

 MY DEAR MARY, 



You know me well enough to believe me without an oath, when 

 I assure you that it will give me great pleasure to serve Mr. Baird 

 to the utmost of my power, not only because he is your husband, 

 but because I am quite convinced that any influence I may possess 

 could not be better exerted than in aiding him to accomplish the 

 object he has at heart. 



The proper course for Mr. Baird to pursue is to forward his 

 recommendations to Prof. Henry, with a letter stating his wishes, 

 and referring to such notices of himself in scientific works as he 

 thinks useful. He should also secure the influence of such of the 

 Regents as he can, by letter or otherwise. I will endeavor to assure 

 him the good-will of Messrs Evarts, Choate, and Hilliard, as well 

 as the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Jewett, of Providence, and if I can 

 advance his interests in any other way, I shall certainly not forget 

 to do so. ... 



From the Same to the Same. 



WASHINGTON, March i, 1847. 

 MY DEAR MARY, 



On receiving your husband's letter with the recommendations, 

 I put them in the hands of Mr. Pearce of the Senate, one of the 

 Regents, and desired him to give them the proper direction. I have 

 conferred with several other members of the board, and particularly 

 with Mr. Hilliard, of Alabama, who saw Mr. Baird's collection last 

 summer and was much interested in both it and him. I have also 

 written to Mr. Jewett, Assistant Secretary, who will have much 



