39 



specimen remarkably fine; this naturally is destined 

 for J. E. S. 



I am almost sure my plant is Psora testacea {Li- 

 chen testaceus) Hoffman, Plantce JLichenosce. Tell 

 me whether you have it, and whether it be not good, 

 that I may not have been brought to task for no- 

 thing. Obs. I do not find this plant in Haller ; — if 

 so, it will be another addition to FL Helv. It seems 

 to have affinity to your gypsaceus, but mine has fine 

 red tubercula. N.B. One time or other, when 

 you are at Sir J. Banks's without much to do, read 

 Saussure, Voyages dans ks Alpes, vol. ii. p. 465. 

 chap. xlv. Glacier de laValsorey, which is very good. 

 You will then see for a moment the spot where I ga- 

 thered Gentiana tenella. 



I crossed the glacier, and looked into the Gouille 

 a V^assu. 



To return to what I was talking of: — You see, 

 my dearest friend, that, from the non-execution of 

 my plan, I appear irresolute, — slow, — and I know 

 not what ; my disordered health is very much against 

 me, not less so the indispensable care of my garden, 

 and the absolute impossibility of resisting the de- 

 lightful verdure that surrounds me during the good 

 season, and which I have here under every form of 

 wood, marsh, pasture, corn-fields, mountains ; — and 

 how are they to be resisted ? Let me hereafter do 

 all the little I can, by excursions and the aid of my 

 garden, to be of use to you. Let me be as it were 

 a part, an unworthy part, of yourself; and let every 

 step, every remark be subservient to your use. This 

 is my ambition and my warmest desire as long as 



