PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 211 



some institution of learning, and wanting an owner. It consists of about a dozen 

 thick folio volumes of plants belonging principally to West Tennessee, very neatly 

 arranged. They were gathered together by a friend of mine, and as the soldiers 

 were destroying them, I have taken charge of them, with a view of presenting them 

 to some scientific institution. Please inform me if it would be worth while to 

 send them to the Smithsonian Institution, and let me know whether I shall for- 

 ward them by Adams's Express, so that they will go safely, and whether I must 

 pay the charges, &c. 



Respectfully, &c, 



H. R. WIRTZ, 

 Surgeon United States Army, Medical Director. 

 Professor Henry, 



Smithsonian Institution. 



P. S. — I have them in a box about 3 feet by 2\. 



The collection of plants above referred to has been received, and will be 

 carefully preserved separately until the close of the war. No information haa 

 been obtained as to the original owner or collector. 



Leipzig, May 31, 1861. 



My Dear Sir : In sending back, through Dr. Fliigel, agent of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, the ferns which have been communicated to me by Dr. 

 Eaton, in your name, I cannot omit to express my warmest thanks, not only for 

 the kindness shown me in this instance, but also for the collection of ferns des- 

 tined for the herbary of the university. 



I am under a great obligation to the Institution for having given me an oppor- 

 tunity of examining these ferns, whereby it has materially assisted me in my 

 studies. 



Accept the assurance of my deepest gratitude and the highest esteem. 



Yours, 



G. METTENIUS, Professor. 

 Professor Dr. Henry, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The ferns sent back are the uniques of Brackenridge's collection, and will 

 be placed with the rest of the collection now in Dr. Torrcv's hands. 



DANIEL C. EATON. 

 New York, January 13, 1863. 



Geneva, Switzerland, May 25, 1862. 



Dear Sir : Your letter of the 28th of February was duly received, and that 

 it has not been sooner answered must be ascribed to the throng of pressing oc- 

 cupations in which 1 have been absolutely absorbed. I am under great obliga- 

 tions for the interest which you have been pleased to take in procuring for me 

 the books and duplicata of your mammifers which I had requested. 



In regard to the catalogue of the Hymenoptera, I regret to say that 1 have 

 not reached it, having been engrossed by various other labors. I have com- 

 menced a large work on America, of which I have had the satisfaction of send- 

 ing to the Smithsonian Institution the two first parts, the Crustacea and the 

 Myriapodcs. Since then I have been engaged with the Orthoptera, and have 

 proposed next to proceed with the Hymenoptera. The plates of the Orthoptera 

 will be forthwith sent to the engraver, but 1 have been dreadfully retarded by 

 a succession of mishaps. My original draughtsman died ; another whom I had 



