LETTER OF DECEMBER 29TH, 1857. 17 



should you deem it worthy of print, to strike out such 

 portions as in your judgment the rectification I have made 

 may render proper. It would doubtless be advisable likewise 

 to suppress the deductions which are there announced as 

 general laws, though it was merely for the purpose of calling 

 your attention to the facts alluded to in them ; for whilst I 

 feel much confidence in their general correctness, and in the 

 value of neuration as a predominant character indicating 

 certain natural divisions and affinities in the members of the 

 order, I am also conscious the announcement is premature. I 

 have been unable thus far to adduce any positive physiological 

 reasons in support of the deductions, and I am aware, until 

 this can be done, its value rests entirely upon an empirical 

 basis. 



IV. 



Easton, Pennsylvania, United States, 

 May 15th, 1859. 



So long a time has gone by since you have heard from 

 me, that I fear you have forgotten your former American 

 correspondent. However this may be, I assure you my 

 devotion to the study of Entomology is as enthusiastic as 

 formerly, and from a student I have become a worker. Let 

 me tell you what I have been doing for Entomological 

 Science during the long interval in which you have heard 

 nothing respecting me. 



At the urgent solicitation of myself and others, Professor 

 Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, has con- 

 sented to authorize Entomological collections in behalf of the 

 Institution throughout the United States, and at the military 

 stations in the Indian territories. This will doubtless result 

 in accumulating an immense amount of material, which will 

 be distributed amongst students, who devote themselves to 

 special orders, to methodize and describe. Then the Institu- 

 tion is preparing to issue a complete collecting manual, giving 

 minute and specific directions in the collection, preservation 



c 



