48 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1835, 
for pursuing my favorite studies, and for acquiring a 
reputation that must sooner or later secure me a good 
place. I have work enough thrown into my hands to 
support me, with my prudent habits, through the win- 
ter. I spend my time entirely at the medical college 
and at my home here at Dr. Torrey’s, and hold little 
intercourse with any except medical and scientific men. 
I am writing two scientific articles on a difficult branch 
of botany for a scientific journal or magazine, which 
will give me a little notoriety. Dr. Torrey and my- 
self went last month to Philadelphia, where we stayed 
a week. We spent our time almost entirely in the 
rooms of the American Philosophical Society, and of 
the Academy of Science. We met most of the scien- 
tific and other learned men, and spent our time very 
pleasantly. You shall hear from me again before long. 
It is not probable that I shall be up before next sum- 
TO HIS MOTHER. 
Saturday Morning, February 7, 1835. 
I do not know when I shall see you. I shall be 
up sometime during the spring or summer if I live 
so long, but perhaps not until July or August. It is 
very probable that I shall stay in the city the whole 
time. I wish very much to spend a few weeks in 
Georgia, early in the spring, but I see that I shall not 
be able to do so. My time is spent here very profit- 
ably, and Iam advancing in knowledge as fast as I 
ought to wish, but I make no money, or scarcely 
enough to live upon. Just at present I am rather 
behindhand, but think that by next fall I shall, with 
ordinary success, be in better circumstances. It is 
unpleasant to be embarrassed in such matters, for I 
should like much to be independent, and this with my 
