70 Journal Xew York Entomological Society. [^'°'- >^xii. 



From Dr. Oemi.er to Dr. T. W. H.\rris. 



Savann.\h April 2-, 1834. 

 Dear Sir 



This morning I had the pleasure of a conversation with your good father, 

 respecting Mr. Abbott. I there learned, that you were under the impression 

 that the old man was " now blind and solely supported by Major Le Conte." 

 I have it in my power to contradict both. Mr. A. used glasses ever since I 

 have known him (1805) and, by means of them, paints the smallest Insects 

 with pretty much correctness, but his hearing faculties are much impaired, the 

 last time I saw him (1825) I had to use the Slate to converse with him. But 

 nowithstanding this misfortune, he was chearful, and his constitutional smile 

 never left his countenance. He is now, I am told, very corpulant, but still 

 exercises his pursuit of hunting birds and drawing — but engages boys to run 

 after Butterflies. As for to be suf^ported ( ?) by Major Le Conte that is not 

 so, except the petty allowance of Six and a quarter Cents for the drawing of 

 an Insect (be it a flea, or a Bombyx Polyphemus) with a full account of its 

 natural history, may be called such. 



You think, Mr. Abbott should be known to the world. — I have always 

 though so too, so that the Laurals, which are assumed by Smith and Le Conte 

 should be placed on the proper brow. To do this has long been my intention, 

 and for to be enabled to do so, I have prevailed on him to furnish me with 

 some notes. I am satisfied that justice be done him, no matter by whom, and 

 as I consider you more capable than myself, I surrender these Notes into your 

 hands. They are, as you will perceive, not concluded yet — I will send you the 

 continuation and any thing else desirable that can be procured by me. 



You will be astonished when you hear that a man, so long amusing him- 

 self with Natural History, should never have been inclined to pursue it scien- 

 tifically, he, although now 83 years of age, is still in the simplicity of a School 

 boy. He has been drawing plants since his boyhood and never knew any 

 thing of Linneus' Classification till I demonstrated it to him and created his 

 astonishment. After this, he never committed again the error to paint dif- 

 ferend numbers of stamens on the same flower. 



Perhaps Mr. A. may be dead by this time, and then you would not get 

 the painting your father ordered, and for this reason I send you one of his 

 productions that you may judge of his abilities. 



with esteem & regards 



Yours 

 Oemlcr. 

 28th. 



The above was intended to be sent by your father, who left here for 

 Charleston this morning at 9 o'clock. I was but one minute too late, when 

 I arrived on the wharf, the Steamer was on the way. Hearing that some young 

 ladies are going to morrow to Boston direct, I now forward this by them, but 

 the drawing I have to withhold, not wishing to fold it up. 



Professor Harris. 



Cambridge. 



