<ET.38.] TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 361 



has a strong tendency to gold-hunting (which few could 

 resist) let him go. And afterwards, if he chooses to 

 collect plants, very well. Few can withstand the 

 temptation when fairly within the infected region, and 

 we hear the Mormons have found gold also. . . . 



February 25, 1849. 



I have just received from the secretary of war, Mr. 

 Marcy, and inclose to you, what I think will procure 

 all the facilities that Fendler can wish from United 

 States troops. If, as I was informed, the secretary 

 has no right to issue an order for rations to Fendler, he 

 has certainly done the best thing by issuing a recom- 

 mendation which will, if the commander is favorably 

 disposed, enable him to give all without any order. 

 Indeed, I think we could ask nothing better. . . . 



In my haste, and multitude of business, I have 

 shabbily neglected to send the copies of " Plantse 

 Fendlerianse " to Hamburg for Braun. And now the 

 Danes have blockaded the Elbe. . . . 



I think I shall soon send the smaller things to you 

 by express, and retain the three volumes of " Me- 

 moirs " for some opportunity less expensive. We want 

 railroad all the way to St. Louis. 



I am crowded overwhelmed with work. But 

 college work will be over in July, and the second vol- 

 ume of " Genera," which I am now hard at work on, 

 will soon be printed off; a week more and I shall 

 have finished the copy. 



I must then work at Exploring Expedition Com- 

 positse, and soon at Fendlerianse, and (when the sets 

 arrive) at Lindheimer's, if you wish. I have made a 

 genus of the Texan Rue between Ruta and Aplo- 

 phyllum, e. g., Rutosma. I think there are some 



