JOSEPH HENRY - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 03/02/1870 - HFSID 32620

JOSEPH HENRY
Joseph Henry signs a letter asking for any other information that George Franklin Edmunds would like to forward to J. P. Marsh.
Manuscript Letter signed: "Joseph Henry", 1½p, 8¼x10½. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1870 March 2. To Hon. G[eorge] F[ranklin] Edmunds, U.S. Senate. In full: "Our minister in Florence, Hon J.P. Marsh, asks the assistance of the Institution in securing for distribution, by himself, in Italy, works relating to the financial, industrial and Agricultural interests of the United States, mentioning in his letter to us that he has addressed you in regard to the matter of supplying him with any duplicates you may be able to [illegible] of documents bearing upon these subjects. We write, therefore, to inform you that we are about preparing the Smithsonian Exchanges for transmission abroad, and that it will give us pleasure to incorporate with the parcel for Mr. Marsh, anything you may wish to send him. We beg leave, in addition, to say that Mr Marsh particularly desires the Agriculture and Patent Office Reports as well as scientific Reports generally, - especially those illustrated by maps - financial documents and the Report of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue." In a handwritten postscript, initialed "J.H.", Henry adds: "P.S. We will gladly send a messenger at any time and to any place you may mention for the delivery of the books -". Docketed on verso of integral leaf (unknown hand). JOSEPH HENRY (1797-1878), a physicist and scientific administrator, discovered electromagnetic induction and self-induction. He is also credited with the invention of the electric motor (1829) and later invented low-resistance and high-resistance galvanometers. In 1893, his name was given to the standard electrical unit of inductive resistance, the henry. In 1846, Henry became the first Secretary of the newly organized Smithsonian Institution, where he established a continuing tradition of research. Under his leadership, weather reporting stations were connected by telegraph in the U.S. In the spring of 1863, Henry was one of the founding members of the National Academy of Science and served as Academy President from 1867. He was both President of the National Academy of Science and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution until his death. GEORGE F. EDMUNDS (1828-1919) served as U.S. Senator from Vermont from 1865-1891 and was a Republican candidate for the Presidential nomination in 1880 and 1884. In 1876, he served on the Electoral Commission that decided the disputed Presidential election. At the time of this letter, Edmunds was on the Committee on Pensions (1869-1873). Lightly creased. Light show through of writing. Upper left corner of signature page chipped off. Docket page has 2 circular stains at mid-left and lower right blank margins, likely from the removal of a seal (not present), and is lightly shaded at folds. Overall, fine condition.