Rec{d Dec. ?th 

 Ans. Feb.17 



Washington Nov. 18, 1854 



Most esteeraed Fr*e nd : 



The departure of Doctor Schiel gives me the Chance to 

 send to you these lines and a small packapre with plant s. . Your large 

 cone from the Sierra Nevada has been shipped through prreat negligence 

 to Mr. Torrey in New York with the remaining collection. I have 

 had serious disputes concerning this misdeed of our botanists». 

 which f however t had no results.^The cone can only be reclained through 

 your own effort. By-the-way I promise to you that I shall take care, 

 that you will get afcother cone of the same species either through 

 myself or friends. This is the second accident of this kind, which 

 occured during ray maturity. Experience teaches me to keep my be- 

 longings under my roof. - I cannot make any renarks about my small 

 and insignif icant contribution to your valued collection, other than 

 I would like it if it would contain something new for you. 



My position is at this time the same. Topographer of the Cen- 

 tral Pacific Railroad. Office in the topographical Bureau and the 

 Wieden Building.- I am very busy as our work is supposed to be t>re- 

 sented to Congress.- The old Prussian died a sad death. During the 

 exped ition of last year into the Sierras he had a Keat-stroke, üro- 

 bably of a life endansrering kind.- Aftr-^- M -^etum he was dreamy 

 and confused. One day he demanded to be taken into the local House 

 of Correction, where he knew an officwr, who treated him with the 

 utmost of kindness and who brought him back to the City. After se- 

 veral days he wert into the forest at the Potomac and slept a number 

 of rights in the open. The Office became alarmed and sent a messenger 

 who found the unfortunate already cold. He had humr himself with a 

 handker Chief .- 



His widow has made substantial demands from our colonel and 

 seems to undertake decisive steps to ecet her requests paid. I will 



