LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



and latest back. Couthouy, to our great sorrow, is away 

 from us on account of his health. He took cold after a 

 severe exposure on one of the Navigator Islands, which 

 settled on his lungs. His health would not permit his 

 accompanying us to New Zealand, and it was thought 

 advisable for him to take the earliest opportunity of going 

 to the Sandwich Islands. He left Sydney for Tahiti, and 

 we anxiously hope to join him again at Oahu. The doc- 

 tors at Sydney could give us no flattering prospects of 

 his recovery. The change of climate may, however, give 

 a favorable turn to his complaint. He has been extremely 

 active, and but for his imprudent zeal he might be with 

 us now in his usual health. Hale has found among these 

 islands and in Australia an exceedingly interesting field 

 for philological investigation, and you will find on our 

 return that the field has been thoroughly investigated 

 and many novelties brought to light. Rich has done so- 

 so. Peale has got some fine birds and butterflies. . . . 

 Agate is very busy, sketching and taking portraits when 

 not engaged in making botanical drawings. He has an 

 admirable series of portraits. Unlike those of the French 

 voyages, they may be trusted as not only characteristic, 

 but accurate likenesses of the individuals. Drayton has 

 made an immense collection of zoological drawings. He 

 is not in good health, but has frequent ailings which lay 

 him up occasionally for six days or so; he smokes too 

 many cigars and takes too much medicine to be well. 

 Brackenridge, in the botanical department, is invaluable. 

 He has suffered somewhat from fever and ague, which 

 he took in the Peruvian Andes, but has now recovered. 

 And now shall I speak of myself ? This reminds me of 

 an article I once read in Rafinesque y s Journal, headed (if 

 I remember right) ' American Geologists.' He gives a 

 short sketch of each of them and then closes with a 

 long and detailed account of his own travels and personal 

 history. However, believing that you take an interest 

 in what is done and will properly interpret my feelings 

 and motives, I will add a few words upon the results of 

 my endeavors. 



" In the geological line, I shall be able to show you 

 some long manuscripts; their other qualities I leave for 

 you to judge of at a future day. Accompanying the 

 manuscripts there are about one hundred sketches of 



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