40 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1833, 



County, N. Y. ; the same as published in fifth edi- 

 tion Eaton's " Manual " under the name of R. pro- 

 stratus, Lamk. I have never seen their specimens, 

 but have little doubt it is a form of K. repens, which 

 flowers with us from April to September and assumes 

 many forms. Dr. Beck wishes me to send him any 

 undescribed or interesting plants, localities of rare 

 plants, etc. I feel somewhat interested in the work, 

 as I wish it to supersede Eaton's entirely. (I hear 

 Eaton is coming out with a new edition in the spring. 

 I see Beck means to anticipate him.) But all the 

 undescribed plants I have are in your hands, and it 

 would be improper to send him such at present. He 

 has in his hands an imperfect specimen of Nasturtium 

 natans, De Candolle, which I sent him two years ago. 

 He did not know it ; supposed it N. palustre, and I 

 do not know whether he has determined it or no. I 

 will tell him what it is. He has that Ophioglossum 

 and probably will publish it. If you please you can 

 publish this, that Scleria, etc., in Silliman, that is, 

 if you think them new. I will send none of these to 

 Beck, but will give him the localities of some of our 

 most interesting plants. 



I have not heard from you since I wrote you on the 

 subject of your letter, but hope you will write me 

 soon. If we can make any arrangement for a year, 

 by its expiration you will know whether or not I 

 shall be of any use to you. I wish to be situated in 

 such a manner as will enable me to advance most rap- 

 idly in science, in botany especially. 



I succeeded, some days ago, in making the chloro- 

 chromic acid of Dr. Thomson (of which you spoke to 

 me when at your house), with chromate of lead, in- 

 stead of bichromate of potash, which I was unable to 



