1850 TO 1865 321 
Can I in any wise help you or her? If so, let me. Were I King of 
Health, surely no such affliction should over take you or yours. 
Though it can do you but little service, it is grateful to me now to 
assure you that my sincere sympathies are with you in whatever ills 
may befall you, not less than in your happier contingencies. I hope 
I have too vividly pictured the inroads of ill-health, and that at 
least a more genial clime and a kindly sphere of influence may bring 
healing on their wings. 
Now, my dear friend, I have scarcely a right to say to you be of 
good cheer and take courage, come what will; yet I feel confident 
that in like case such words from you would bring some comfort. I 
would gladly learn how things really are with you and yours, but 
cannot ask it now, when you are doubtless over-whelmed with work 
and solicitude. Whether you are now in Washington or in some place 
pleasanter for you I can hardly divine, but I hope for the latter and 
best estate. 
I have watched the progress of S. I. affairs with interest, especially 
in these latter days. I presume the course of empire is not yet run, 
and that there are tumults and inquiries yet to come. But I have 
no heart to mingle in these things now, and only think of your infi- 
nitely deeper concern in that invalid, so dear and valued not to you 
alone, but to others who at respectful distance wait and hope. It 
would do me good to see you once again and testify face to face that 
I am truly your friend. 
E. B. Hunt. 
From D. N. Couch, U.S. A., to Spencer F. Baird. 
Fort Leavenworty, Nov. 16, 1854. 
My information was chiefly from a young man who 
accompanied me during a part of my tour in Northern Mexico, 
formerly clerk in Berlandiére’s office or apothecary shop. 
Dr. Louis Berlandiére,”! a Swiss, arrived in Mexico from Switzer- 
land in 1826, believed to have been sent out by a Scientific Society 
for the purpose of collections in botany—he was soon after appointed 
a member of the Commission of Linits—a Commission organized 
21 So spelled in original; the correct name is Berlandier. 
21 
