306 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



Mary on Lake Champlain. She goes on Wednesday with a suitable 

 escort, and will pass the summer at Elizabethtown, Essex Co. New 

 York. I expect to be back in Washington about the end of September. 



With the risk of life and health in traveling before me I have 

 thought proper to make some disposition of my affairs. I have 

 accordingly deposited with Corcoran & Riggs in a basket containing 

 silver, a package addressed to S. F. Baird, containing a schedule of 

 property and directions for the disposition of estate! I have left 

 everything to Mary and appointed her and you executors. In the 

 event of any fatal accident to us, or death in any way, this will be 

 your order on Corcoran & Riggs, to deliver up the basket, and taking 

 from it the papers. The silver (belongs to the Churchills); you will 

 find all necessary directions. I have a large sum of money to my 

 credit as disbursing agent, which is to be returned to the various 

 government agents from whom received, as specified fully in the 

 papers. The form of the will was at the suggestion and made out 

 in presence of Col. Peter Force of this city. 



Give my love to Harriet, and to Mother if with you, and believe 

 me 



Your affectionate brother, 



S. F. BAIRD. 



From Spencer F. Baird to John H. Clark. 



WASHINGTON, October 3, 1853. 

 MY DEAR ADAM: 



I have been home now a few days (returning Sept. 29) and having 

 finished the most pressing items of business, hasten to write a line 

 to you. I wrote to you from the North inclosing to Dept. Interior, 

 care of Major Emory, and on getting here, lo and behold, I find the 

 letter sent me from the Dept. of the Interior, with question as to 

 where you are. I now send it again. 



I have had a great round this summer. Wisconsin, Michigan, 

 Ohio, New York, and Canada to Quebec. I have traveled 5062 miles, 

 collected in 38 localities, and spent $600.00!! No end to the fulness 

 of my bottles, but a very decided one to my purse. Pity they don't 

 give me congressional mileage, (40 cents). I look with much anticipa- 



