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Smithsonian Institution
Prof Baird Dear Sir I have received all your letter[s] and been faithfull to Exicute all the orders contained in them, except the one relative my […]itting you. Have nothing of Interest to say I concluded that I would not write until I could say that I had finished up some one portion of your orders left with me to fulfill. I have this day finished up the Packing Room - and have made a beginning in the Packing Room under the library, and indeed feel almost Puzzled to know how I shall Truely begin for there is But little of this work that I can do alone and Every man is Bussy about other Repairs about the building Except John who is doing his usual Part of skulking & hiding away. I have engaged in almost Every Branch of work that is usual and unusual about the S.I. Mr Thomas Egleston applied to Prof Henry for my assistence in the Mineralogical Department and I was engage at different times well into two weeks marking numbers on 2400 pieces of Broken Building Stone. __ __ ___ the next unusual job was after I had finished filling up all the numbers in the recent shelves of Distributing case against the East Wall in the Document Room. Mr Hinwood complained to Mr Rheese of the great Inconvenience in him having to come down to Doct Room with written order for S. Publication..- finely an order came over from Prof Joseph Henry By Mr Rheese ordering all the Papers contained in the cases above [?named] to be Brought up in Mr Hinwood Room (formerly Mr Hayes) to be systematically arranged etc. this order puts me back almost one week as James & Rodyen and Indeed I was at times assisting Mr Debrist in the Alteration then going on in Mr Gill's and the Apparatus Room. So I could get but little chance or assistence to carry up this Tremendous Pile of Literary matter, but by taking up often at times I did on Thursday last finish up the whole, tieing up a Batch of each paper occupied all friday, and apart of Saturday. Monday I finished up washed off all the counters Put things generally to wright again lock up the Room and decends under the Library to begin operation there but finding several lot of things thus Mr Eglesten had laid out for packing for the Express- etc. - I did not finely begin until to day. I can not give any description of the Room where Mr Waltz is working as he appears to be making very slow progress and every thing looks very Bad in that Portion of the Building. your Room is filled with Boxes of osteological specimens taken from the shelves from the north walls and where the door going into Mr Gills Room. - the first case - on the west wall had to be removed - all the things was Taken out and Placed in the last case on the same side I takes down the Boxes and emptied the cases my self so thus all was safly and carefully removed together with Mr Stimpsons case. ___ I made some righting up in the Aisle Room, But I went down to day and it was frightfull - Mr. Gill, have got every Place filled with jars of fished and dirty alcohol not saying anything about old Rags Tin can keys etc. floor all slooped, Table dripping. Indeed not sence the Agassizian Party was here have I seen such a room - But in due time I hope to have Everything in a shape more congenial to my feelings. I shall not shock your nerves with any discription of the small wate Room - next to your office. But a change will come over this department if Mr Gill goes north. Prof Henry Gave orders for the Balwin cases of small Birds thus in Mr G. Room to be lowered to the museum floor. Did Mr Varden tell you… I have not Tuched them yet. But will try and hold on until I hear from you --on the subject I hope Mrs Baird is now very well and also Mrs Churchill and Miss Lucy. I called by the house on Saturday Evening all was well and every thing in order. Girls desired to be Remembered kindly to all. Please give my Best Respects to Mrs Baird, Miss Lucy, Mr & Mrs Churchill & Daniel. I should have mentioned before that I have been at the Patent office with [?Clanlce] and his wagon removing some thing from there. I think of nothing more of Interest to say just now. I am sir your obedient servent Solomon G. Brown To Prof. S F. Baird |