Item Description

Title: Letter from GEORGE PERKINS MARSH to SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD and MARY CHURCHILL BAIRD, dated June 30, 1870.

Author

  • Marsh, George Perkins, 1801-1882

Recipient

  • Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887
  • Baird, Mary Churchill

Source Document

Extent: 1 letter

Genre(s): letter

Subject/name

Note [Digital Version]

, Center for Digital Initiatives, University of Vermont Libraries

Type of Resource: text

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Preferred citation

Letter from GEORGE PERKINS MARSH to SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD and MARY CHURCHILL BAIRD, dated June 30, 1870., Original located at the Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washinton, D.C., RU7002., http://cdi.uvm.edu/collections/item/gpmsfb700630 (accessed May 22, 2013)

Letter from GEORGE PERKINS MARSH to SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD and MARY CHURCHILL BAIRD, dated June 30, 1870.

Transcribed by :

TEI mark-up by : James P. Tranowski and


Published by: University of Vermont. All rights reserved.

Publication Information

Florence June 30' 1870


Dear Spencer & Mary

I cry you mercy! Miseremini mei! pecavi! mea culpa! Having made humble penitence I will answer your letter orderly, beginning at the beginning and leaving off at the end.

I think the Italian ministry will do right about the duties hereafter. Can't promise restitution for the past. Circulars arrived only a few days ago & are all distributed

The box of pub. doc for me is, as I am advised from New York, on the way, but will hardly arrive until I am off for Paris to see Dr Sims. We shall go on the 1' of July [if the?] fear of the small-pox doth not deter us.

We envy you your summer excursion, though the yachting -------------------------------- Page -------------------------------- part, if you are to sail anywhere where the water would be "over my head" is less tempting. At any rate, if you catch any good fish, I would help you eat them, & thereby strengthen & reinforce the brains of us all with phosphorus & other needful material.

There hath been the devil to pay among the celestials. Scientific Schiff hath pitched into scientific Parlatore, and scientific Eccher (Italian for hecker) hath pitched into Schiff. I am afraid it will end in driving the Goths out of Italy. There were Moleschott, two Schiffs, Hecker, Herzen, & I know not how many other Dutchmen, all outlandishmen, & unbelievers at that, invited by Catholic Italy to be the teachers of their youth. Well, Herzen rudely attacks Monsigneur Lambruschini, no scientific indeed, but a gentleman, & Schiff most [...]ably attacked Parletore at a [...] of conversation, without the slightest previous hint of dissatisfaction, & all Florence is thrown into a hubbub by -------------------------------- Page -------------------------------- [The following written vertically.]
the ill-breeding of these foreigners. I like Schiff very much, but I think, in this matter, that he has behaved in the most unjustifiable way. This of course sub rosa. There is much more scientific life & activity in Italy than the Dutch are willing to admit, but the general [poverty?] of the government and people is a great drawback in these days, when science is hardly to be had gratis.

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