New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29

intimate friends IN an archaic STYLE the onect oil
which is very quaint and which increased the
piouancy of his playful humor Thus he cd
monishes Professor Baird on one occasion:
aSon Spencer thou art little better than one
Of the wicked. Why dost thou not answer mine
epstles? Wilt thou write to all manner Of formal,
Official. prsgmatical, conventional philistering.
corresponding secretaries, and other humdrum
men Of straw. and not unto me, thine ancieht
gossip, who do monthly enrich thy pericraniuim
with good matter7 Truly thou doest naughtily
in this, and win have amends of thee
Hero is another specimen of his lighter moods:
Dear Baird am glad to learn by your bool,
on snakes that the Hcterodon whats that odd
learned learned newspaper discussion read jperhsps you
took part in IT,, Scripture was referred to TO
prove that serpents hiss, and the fact being
S dsa,na ID t to reject the Bible and
turn Turk, which publicly did in Santa Sophia,
about three months since Nathless my conscience
troubled me, and finding by yoqr immortal s work TX
Christianity and shall propose to the Urivcrsalist
University, Norwich, Vermont. TO make you and
defence Of Scripture truth against the infidel
sneers Of modern scioists 1 am happy 20 aau a
that this important doctrine is sustained by the
testimony Of DR.; Sandwich and Mrs MARSH w snd
inclined to the sin Of scepticism, never did
Since writing the above, find upon consulting
Crudcn, that Scripture does not say they hiss;
but on the contrary, by It's silence on this point
rather gives currency to the superstition that they
arc silent also, and I am now minded to relapse
into Islamism again.
During his European travels. which included
Germany, Austria and Italy, Mr.. Marsh was con-
stantly on the lookout for creatures and things
likely to be of use to the Smithsonian Institution
lie also took meteorological observations, meas
ured mountains, and observed and tested and ex-
amined every curious natural formation that fell
in his way. On his return home he found bis
private affairs IN desperate condition, and he
was compelled before long to give up the hope
Of working out of these difficulties In 1850 at
the invitation Of the heads Of Columbia College,
he delivered three lectures on the English language
which were afterward published and brought him
so great an access of reputation He at this time
also began to write the work published in 1854
under the title "Man and Nature and subse-
ouently revised and renamed The Earth as Mod
fled by Human Action" In 1s61-the limit of
this volume-he was nominated by President Lin
coin to the Italian Mission, and being promptly
confirmed he left the country for an absence
destined to exceed twenty years. just as the war
Of the Rebellion was beginning
The concluding volume of the Life and Letters
will be awaited with interest, for it will deal
with the most important literary period in his
career But the present volume abundantly IL
illustrates an exceptionally gifted and noble char
acter, and fully accounts for the warmth OF the
affection entertained for Mr.. Marsh by all who
became intimate with him. Mrs. Marsh has done
her part Of the work excellently and with dis
elimination, and it may be said without figure OF
speech that there is not dull page In the book
she has 50 lovingly edited.