338 A DECADE OF WORK AT HOME. [1845, 



Some of the scientific reports will soon be published, 

 Dana on the Corals, etc., which will, I suppose, be very 

 creditable to him. When any of the volumes appear 

 I am somewhat inclined to call public attention to 

 some of this gross mismanagement and incompetency 

 in these wrong-headed managers, in a review. I 

 thank you very much for all the botanical news you 

 give, and hope you will still favor me now and then 

 with other such epistles. 



I have never worked so hard as for the last four 

 years, nor accomplished so much. Still it will not 

 show for much in your eyes, and I receive many an 

 exhortation like yours to go on with the " Flora." 

 But a world of work that could only be done by my- 

 self, the pressure of the duties of my new position, and 

 the necessity of taking, indeed of creating, and main- 

 taining a stand that should make my department felt 

 and appreciated, has indeed sadly interrupted the 

 work which I am of all others most desirous to com- 

 plete. I have already a great deal of matter in a state 

 of forwardness, and another year (Deo favente) will, 

 I trust, give you a better account of me. My last 

 course of public lectures in Boston commences in a 

 fortnight, and will be over towards the close of Feb- 

 ruary. You will admit that there is some temptation 

 to a person who has so many uses for money, when I 

 tell you that I received twelve hundred dollars for the 

 delivery of twelve lectures, and that there are strong 

 reasons beyond what the institution that employs me 

 may justly demand, that I should do my best. This, 

 however, will soon be over, and the " Flora " shall be 

 pushed with vigor. ... I greatly long to revisit Eng- 

 land and to see you all once more. Nothing would 

 delight me more ; and there is a world of work I want 



