Transcribe Baird, Spencer Fullerton. Letter to Henry Augustus Ward (1876-04-01)

                                                                                 [another hand-Apr 6]
                                    International Exhibition, 1876

BOARD ON BEHALF OF U.S. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

             National Museum: Smithsonian Institution,
                                  Washington, April 1, 1876

Dear Prof. Ward,

         I enclose herewith a copy of a letter

I have just addressed to Dr Spilman in reference to securing funds to finish out our display at the Cen- tennial, in view of the refusal of Congress, so far, to give us an additional appropriation. It has occurred to me that you might possibly know of some institution of sufficient wealth to own the series referred to.

  Of course, we are not bound to give up this to

one person rather than another. You know en- ought of the collection to understand that it is worth the price affixed, & that in an equitable division of the collection into two sets, much more than equivalent would be returned for the money. With the pro- deeds of such an arrangement, we could easily clear off all our liabilities, & furnish up every thing in a fair condition.

                                          Yours very truly,

Prof. H.A. Ward Spencer F, Baird

       Rochester
                N.Y.

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