73 South Row Kensal New Town 

 London, March 28, l8?l 



Highly honored DoctorJ 



I cannot suf ficiently assure you with how much pleasure I received your 

 valued letter yesterday of the llth. inst, and have it again before me for 

 answering. 



For the present there has been no possibility for me to go to Paris, the 

 persecutions of the peace-loving German business men in France have not ceased, 

 in spite of the conclusion of peace. The French government has not yet permitted 

 the entry of the German into France, because it itself fears the people. The few 

 Germans who stole into France, had to leave again. How long this scandal and 

 this in justice will last, who can teil? According to a letter which I received 

 yesterday from Paris, my garden is still in best condition and, because of the 

 continuing beautiful weather, many of the cacti should be in bloom. As soon as 

 the security has been established somewhat, I will go to Paris and then write to 

 you especially about the young plants, which still remain from your seed, as also 

 about things in general and about the Mexican plants and seedlings, for which I am 

 indebted to Dr. Weber for the seed. AlasJ dear Dr. Weber, where can he be? I saw 

 him the last time last July and, since I have not heard even the least bit from 

 him, I imagined that he had been taken prisoner, which is easy to surmise because 

 the whole army of France was captured. This much is certain, that since my absence 

 from Paris he also has been absent, otherwise he certainly would have sometime 

 looked for me and given me Information. I cannot believe that it is possible that 

 he has been killed; yet in war doctors are always protected from enemy fire. In 

 order to free myself from this terrible uncertainty, I will write to Msgr. Emil 

 Gerard in Strasburg immediately upon finishing this letter, if he can possibly give 

 me Information as to the whereabouts and wellbeing of the doctor? As soon as I 

 receive an answer I will take the pleasure of at once giving you the information. 



Will you please accept my heartiest thanks for the to me/valuable seed of 

 Cereus gigantens and Echinocactus Johnsoni . I will not fail to give some to 

 Dr. Weber the next time I see him. Echinocactus Si mp woni -i is entirely unknown to 

 me and I would be very grateful to you if you will kindly send me a specimen some- 

 time. I get to Kew occasionally, we exchange with each other, last autumn I in- 

 creased the collection there by over 100 varieties. 



