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. Iexpect 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. Barrp. 
From Spencer F. Baird to John H. Clark. 
WasuincTon, October 3, 1853. 
My pear ApAM:— 
T 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- 
