410 CORRESPONDENCE. [1854, 



to the slowness as well as the feeble health of the 

 artist, Mr. Sprague ; perhaps, even, it may not reach 

 you before next year, by the same mode of convey- 

 ance. 



I have now, indeed, some hopes that the " Flora 

 of North America ' may soon be carried through the 

 GamopetalaB, I elaborating at the same time, in a gen- 

 eral memoir, the Gamopetalae of Wright's, Fendler's, 

 and Lindheimer's collections in continuation ; a pretty 

 formidable matter ! 



In a separate small parcel you will find (in the 

 Smithsonian envoi) some brochures for you. . . . 

 Among them is a short article in " Silliman's Jour- 

 nal," accompanying a reprint of a great part of Dr. 

 Hooker's Introductory Essay to the " Flora of New 

 Zealand." Agassiz here is committed to the view op- 

 posite to Hooker's, in an equally extreme form. I 

 wished to interpose some criticisms to both views, but 

 had only time to touch briefly on one or two points. 

 I wait with impatience for your work on " Geographic 

 Botanique," expecting very much from it, from your 

 great ability, long study of the subject, and fairness 

 of mind. Indeed, I was daily expecting to learn that 

 it was published ; and now you tell me that the print- 

 ing is barely begun ; the " Prodromus," volume 14, 

 not yet begun ! But I am one of the last persons 

 who ought to complain of delay in execution. . . . 



From the family of the late M. de Jussieu, you 

 should receive a copy of the " Epistobe Linnseano- 

 Jussieuanse," with our late friend's notes, etc., the last 

 scientific work of his too short life. 1 I intended to 



1 From a letter to Sir W. J. Hooker : " Curious that this correspon- 

 dence, after lying so long 1 , should at length be printed and published 

 in New England." A. G. 



