616 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1871, 



have lent it to a judicious friend, who has just re- 

 turned it. 



I have been besought to write notices of the book, 

 but I decline. You don't know how distracted I am 

 in these days, doing the work of professor, gardener, 

 builder, fina'ncier, and what not, all at once. 



But I must not let this mail pass without sending 

 you the little I could get as to Laura Bridgman. 



Through Dr. Jarvis, a medical man, etc., I got the 

 queries put to the woman who has now the personal 

 charge of Laura, and he brought me the inclosed, 

 which I think I should not much rely on. 



When Dr. Howe is on hand, some day, I will see 

 if I can get anything authentic and particular, not, 

 I fear, in time for you. 



TO CHARLES WRIGHT. 



CAMBRIDGE, June 28, 1871. 



. . . Well, I say the same as then, only I feel sad 

 about the chance of the " Flora of North America." 

 What is my bete noire, as I said before, is the care of the 

 Garden ; and till I can get rid of that, by some com- 

 plete reorganization, which shall result in the Garden's 

 being much better seen to than it has been, better 

 taken care of and better named up and superintended, 

 I shall not be comfortable nor of much use in writ- 

 ing " Flora of North America." 



I am going to try if I cannot find or make some sort 

 of superintendent, and pay him out of what I pay for 

 rent of house, and have succeeded in getting credited 

 to Botanic Garden fund. This will leave me to pay 

 for work in the herbarium (which is the work you pre- 

 fer) out of the only $800 a year yielded by herbarium 

 fund, which has first of all to pay for books, paper, 



