98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FwEGENTS. 



trained quitted this service to engage iu that of the raih-oads ; a third found a 

 lucrative place and left me to shift for myself, and the fourth threatens to do the 

 same thing. Nevertheless, I hope to get through some day or other. 



My taxidermist, whom I had left in Mexico to complete my collections, after 

 having done nothing but cajole me for several years, has ended by leaving the 

 country without sending me anything of consequence. All this has greatly 

 hindered me. Still, my descriptive treatise on the Vespidaj of America is ready, 

 but I Avish to revise the manuscript and correct it from beginning to end, for it 

 is my custom to leave my manuscripts in the drawer for one or two years and 

 then remodel them by means of the materials I have in hand. It is only in 

 this way that zoological works can be worthily composed. If you are urgent, 

 however, I will leave the Orthoptera in order to take up the Wasps and will 

 send you the manuscript this winter. Please indicate to me your wishes on this 

 subject. 



As to the other families, I cannot undertake them till I have done with the 

 Orthoptera and the Wasps. But as you seem in haste, I think your best course 

 would be to intrust this work to some American whose special line of study 

 lies in that direction, and Mr. Edward Norton is well qualified for it. With the 

 same view I have already prevailed on him to take iu hand the Ichneumonidce. 



It would be impossible to make purely and simply a catalogue of the Hyme- 

 noptera. The number of known species is much too restricted. There would 

 be needed a descriptive work, and you could not acquit yourself of it under 

 less than ten large volumes. The labor upon the Hymenoptera is a colossal 

 cue. When I shall have published the Wasps, I will see whether I can under- 

 take another family for you, and believe that I can ; but, trust me, you must 

 proceed by families or you will have nothing satisfactory. 



I take this opportunity of informing you that in July I shall forward to you 

 a package containing three memoirs of mine and my map of Mexico ; and in 

 addition, certain books for several learned Americans. Have you Saussure's 

 Treatise dn Hygromctry 1 Be so kind as to have the books distributed accord- 

 to the address of each. 



Please accept, dear sir, my cordial good wishes and the expression of my entire 

 esteem. 



D. H'Y DE gAUSSURE.- 



P. S. — If you have still any'Vespidce to send mc to complete my manuscript, 

 it will be necessary to do so soon, that 1 may be enabled to employ them as 

 materials. My manuscript will form a volume in 8vo. 



You will inexpressibly oblige me if you will have the recent American work 

 on Tehuantepec sent to me. 



We have since learned that the manuscript work on the Vespidce or Wasps 

 of America, mentioned in the foregoing letter, has been completed. It will be 

 published as soon as practicable after it has been received and translated from 

 the French 



New York, September 16, 1862. 



Dear Sir: My brother wishes me to address you in regard to a cabinet of 

 minerals which he Avould like to sell to the Smithsonian Institution. He has a 

 collection of minerals, mostly Californian and Mexican, between 2,000 and 

 3,000 in number, and containing about $1,500 in gold and silver. His reason 

 for selling is, that it is entirely too valuable to retain iu his office, as he is afraid 

 of being robbed. He asks $3,000 for it, and refers to Professor Whitney, of 

 California, for an examination. 



Y"ou would confer a favor by returning an answer to this note when conve- 



