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found the opportunity of sending by a friend ; — 

 chances of this sort are rare, and I would not trust 

 them to the merchants, having myself lost a packet 

 by this means. I ought also long since to have 

 written to you ; but the account I could have given 

 of myself, till within these few months, was such 

 .that it would neither have given pleasure to my 

 friends nor myself. I am happy now to be able to 

 say, that I have escaped from a very serious state of 

 ill health ; and am far better than when I last had 

 the pleasure of seeing you. 



I have not neglected my botanical pursuits, and 

 have made great additions, particularly to my Cryp- 

 togamia. I have collected everything of that kind 

 I could meet with here, and have purchased a very 

 fine collection, particularly of Lichens, from Schlei- 

 cher of Bex, whose list I send you. His price is so 

 moderate and his specimens so good, that, should 

 you or any botanical friend desire to have anything 

 from him, I would readily undertake to procure it. 

 He sends me constantly specimens as well to pur- 

 chase as to determine ; and I am much advanced in 

 my drawing to illustrate Acharius. The present 

 state of botany at Florence is respectable, but not 

 much encouraged. The Grand Duke is fond of 

 plants, and has lately purchased a copy of English 

 Botany ; and I believe some other works, of which 

 I furnished a list. He has built a fine range of 

 stoves and houses in the Boboli garden, where many 

 good plants are cultivated, though it cannot be con- 

 sidered a regular botanical garden, the best plants 



