54 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1835, 
Since my return I have been very busy, and on the 
whole very comfortably situated. I have got back to 
my class in the Sunday-school; both teachers and 
scholars have mostly returned, for they all get scat- 
tered during the warm months of the summer; and we 
are now going on very well. On my arrival here I 
found a very fine package of dried plants collected by 
my friend the Rev. John Diell, chaplain for American 
seamen in the Sandwich Islands. I set about them 
immediately, and it has taken me nearly all my time 
this month to study them, but I have now finished 
them. I shall send my notes about them to Professor 
Hooker of Glasgow, Scotland, that he may, if he 
pleases, publish them in the “Journal of Botany,” of 
which he is the editor. They are of more interest to 
the people on that side of the water than to us. I 
have again sat down to writing upon the work in 
which I have been engaged all summer, and I do not 
mean that anything else shall tempt me from it until 
it is finished, although a nice little parcel of weeds 
from China, sent by S. Wells Williams! (son of Wm. 
Williams), lies at my elbow. As to my book,? I am 
trying to make a bargain with two publishers; the 
prospects seem pretty fair, and I shall probably get 
$300, which is the sum I insist on. I shall have a 
definite answer in a few days. As to my course and 
occupation for the winter I can say nothing, for I 
have not hit upon any certain plan. One thing is 
pretty certain after thinking over the matter quite 
sab and consulting with Dr. Hadley, who is my 
1S. Wells Williams, 1812-1884. Went as missionary to China in 
1833. Wrote a Chinese dictionary and other works; translated Gene- 
sis and Matthew into Japanese also. Later was secretary of the Amer- 
ican Legation to — zh returned to America in 1875, 
2 Elements of Bota 
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