1850 TO 1865 297 



erals with glass bottles! better take the specimens out of bottles and 

 put in lino bags. And by all means have the kegs or vessels perfectly 

 full. I gave Lieut. Saxton minute directions about packing, which he 

 will impart to you when you see him. 



By the same opportunity, I suppose you will send back what you 

 have collected personally. Include also with yours, anything from 

 Capt. Van Vliet and others. I am getting feverish to see what is 

 coming. 



Give my kindest regards to Capt. Van Vliet, and thank him for his 

 past and promised efforts. 



I had a long talk last evening with General Scott and Col. Cooper. 

 They promise everything. Our new Secretary, Jefferson Davis, will 

 no doubt do whatever is needful. 



The N. Orleans collection has not yet arrived. I look for it daily. 



Write by every opportunity and oblige, 



Yours truly, 



S. F. BAIRD. 



From Spencer F. Baird to George P. Marsh. 



WASHINGTON, March 8, 1853. 

 MY DEAR FATHER: 



I cry "Peccavi" to part of your accusation, as I have had your 

 letter of Jan. 4th in hand for several weeks without answering. But 

 I was so desirous of writing you a long tiresome letter, and of telling 

 all the news possible and impossible, that I resolved to take some 

 quiet Sunday when Mary and the other baggage had cleared out and 

 left me to my quiet. Well, this quiet has not come, and so I sit down 

 this Tuesday evening to the labor of exceeding love, determined to 

 buckle to it like bricks. What can, however, have become of my long 

 letter written early in January; has it never reached, or is it perchance 

 lying perdue in the State Department, or somewhere in Con-stan-ti- 

 no-ple? It was a big letter, with not much in it, except love to Dear 

 Mrs. M., which it was expected you would resolutely skip. 



Well, I have been rather hard at work. I cannot deny it, but am 

 now getting tolerably well through. I fear me I have much to answer 

 for in the way of deluding unsuspecting young (and even old) men to 

 possible destruction from bite of snake, scorpion or centipede, engulf- 



