398 CORRESPONDENCE. [1853, 
But you thought it would not then be quite proper to 
request it. Now that the institution has given such 
evidences of its vigor and productiveness, aes that I 
can assure you it is only beginning to do its work, 
and that in number of volumes it will soon overtake 
you, I venture to renew the request which I was then 
requested to make; and I think that your society, 
with these assurances, and in view of the good offices 
of the Smithsonian in promoting Leiorcbicicos (at no 
small expense), would freely accord the earlier vol- 
umes of its memoirs, on your proposition. 
Dr. Harris! has made interesting researches on the 
plants cultivated by our aborigines, which I urge him 
to publish; but he is one of those persons who are 
never quite ready to print as long as they live. 
I have long suspected that Helianthus tuberosus 
came from North America. I should like to study 
from what indigenous species it comes. . . 
As to the “ Botany of the South Sea Explocg Ex- 
pedition,” the manuscript and the drawings are ready 
up nearly to the Leguminosee ; and the printing, — 
is not under my control, is about to commence. 
work will probably make three quarto volumes a 
300 folio plates. I shall be sure to have a copy to 
send you. As to the specimens, there are few dupli- 
cates ; and of these I am not myself allowed to retain 
any. Possibly, hereafter, some may be awarded to 
me. That expedition did not land on the high Antarctic 
coasts it saw, and therefore made no collections there. 
Its Antarctic collection is all from Orange Harbor, 
Tierra del Fuego, and has little that is new. 
The most interesting part of the collection was 
made at the Sandwich and Feejee islands. 
1 Thaddeus Wm. Harris, 1795-1856; librarian of Harvard College 
aud a distinguished entomologist, 
