Lenormand, R. Rec. April 16 Ans. Feb 13, 1851 



Vire, February 9, 1849 



Dear Sir, 



If I have not thanked you earlier for the nice letter that you had the kindness of writing 

 me last August 28, it is because during the time that it arrived I was busy doing many 

 things not botanical. Last May I was nominated sub administrator of our district, without 

 having been consulted or even warned. I was therefore obliged to accept this job in order 

 to gain the confidence placed on me by my co-citizens. They were afraid that a stranger 

 did not want to disturb the tranquility of our country, which is what had occured in so 

 many other places of France. I can't tell you how much it has cost to make this sacrifice 

 that is being requested from me. For eight months I was condemned to a type of crazy 

 job that was not to my liking nor within my habits. I bemoaned at every instant to have 

 had to abandon ail my cherished studies for such an unrewarding occupation. At last the 

 hour of my deliverance arrived at the end of 1848. If I cannot avoid regretting the time 

 that I lost for Botany I at least have the consolation that the voices of my compatriots 

 were quiet, as perfect order did not cease in my district, during this time. 



It is with a sort of feverish ardour that I resumed my type of life, so calm and so 

 peaceful. I began by making some order in my study; but my greatest wish is to begin 

 showing signs of life in my correspondence. Most could not explain my silence and could 

 not know what had become of the coworkers to whom I attach a high price and which I 

 want to reestablish. Your name came about, as had to be the case, as the first one in my 

 recollection and I hurry in thanking you for your benevolent disposition towards me. I was 

 delighted to learn that my first dispatch gave you pleasure. I hope that the one I am 

 accumulating to send you this year, will not be less interesting. It will contain a large 

 number of rare or entirely new phanerogams, that have been discovered in France, 

 thanks to the scholarly research of Mr. Jordan and other distinguished naturalists. I will 

 do everything in my power to acquire the majority of them. It will give me great pleasure 

 to share with you ail that I have collected. I benefited from the information that you gave 

 me in regards to Mr Gailey and I hurried to suggest to him to correspond with me. He 

 agreed with perfect kindness. I sent him a package of algae together with a letter which I 

 asked him to let you read. I am very pleased with this family of cryptogams. I will take 

 care to collect as many as I can; the collection that I have started was momentarily 

 interrupted by my relations with Germany. I could not give you the name of the species 

 that are in your envoy, but I will inform you about them later on. The package that you 

 were so kind to send me will be ready and addressed like the previous one, to Mr. Jules 

 Gardye, businessman in Le Havre, who will remit it to me. Please include as many ferns 

 as possible, because it is a family that I am very interested in. AH the Cryptogams of 

 Lichens, Mosses, Algae and Mushrooms that you can include with the Phanerogams, will 

 be equally received with open arms. Please also send the samples of which you will have 

 much information. 



Accept dear Sir, new reassurances of my sincère dévotion. 



From your devoted and affectionate, 



R. Lenormand 



Translation. Manfred Thurmann 



6 7 8 9 10 

 copyright reserved 



