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My Dear Mr Marsh.

You cannot think with what anxiety Mary and I have perused the papers to learn of your welfares, after seeing the announcement of the illness of both yourself and Mrs. M. Nor with what gratitude we say by the last advices that you had returned to Constantinople, much improved in health. I hope it may continue so a long--long time.

I have just returned after a two month absence; first to Albany to attend the meeting of the American Association, next to Otsego Lake, to fish and to see Miss Cooper, authoress of that charming book, "Rural Hours"; next to Mt. Washington to overlook creation; then to Cambridge, to rummage amongst Prof. Agassiz collections and carry off duplicates; and finally to Washington again, via NYork, Phila. and Reading. Mary and Lucy had gone to Carlisle the beginning of June, and staid there during the summer, joining me -------------------------------- Page -------------------------------- in Reading, and returning to Washington when I did. Right glad I was to get back once more to steady work, and plenty I found to do. We shall have a third volume of Smithsonian Contributions out by next spring, and there will be nuts for me to crack in superintending its safe passage. Have you yet received the box of books, sent you by Yasigi and Goddard for distribution? The same with the kegs I shipped at an earlier date.

Yesterday brought the keg announced in your letter of May 3. All the specimens in perfect order; and all very acceptable. What fruits and other pickled vegetables are there, you said nothing about them. Are the grasshoppers veritable locusts. Are all the fish from the Nile, and the reptiles from its banks. I look daily for a letter detailing your adventures in Asia, and in its expectation write no more now as I have much much to do this morning. With warmest love to dear Mrs. M. I am most

affectionately yours

[The following appears vertically on the left margin of the page beginning "Smithsonian Institution."]

P.S. Mary was going to write, but cannot now; will do so soon. Can you get about a dozen or more skulls of dogs, common dogs, such as live in Constantinople? Dont forget the camels skulls, c.

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