Weber, Alb. ( X - ^F' , 



San Luis Potosi, July 24, 1869 <rn yAMfl8l ? 



Sir and most honorable colleague, 



Your remarkable botanical work and specialy that which you have published on the 

 Cactus family, has encouraged me to correspond with you. For a long time I have been 

 interested in Botany, more like an amateur and not like a true scholar, My sojourn in 

 Mexico as physieian of the French army has provided me the opportunity to undertake 

 this type of study. I devoted most of my time to the study of the Cacti, so numerous in 

 this country and so little known by the European botanists. Your various studies on this 

 family have come to my help, even though I have not found any of the ones that you 

 describe, but have helped me as guides to the way these Mexican species are studied. I 

 was able to collect in the various regions of Mexico where I traveled, a large number of 

 unedited documents on so many species that are already known and a certain number of 

 new species. Among others I was able to study a good number of Cereus specially in the 

 region of Tehuacan. The observations that I did on the organs of fructification will 

 totally change the ideas presently available. I would be very thankful if you would allow 

 me to correspond with you and submit to you the results of my observations that I have 

 already made and of the ones, much more numerous, that I intend to make in the future. 

 Your comments will be of great value in the documents that I plan to publish, when I 

 return to Europe. 



You would give me enormous pleasure to receive the seeds of all the species that are 

 bearing fruit. Even specimens of as many living plants as possible. 

 I am not sure of your address to which I could conveniently send my correspondence 

 and any documents that you may find interesting. 



You became known to me through AI Braun and my friend Mr.Buchinger who 

 encouraged me to correspond with you in regard to my studies on Cacti. 



With hopes that you will honor me with your response, I send you most honorable 

 colleague, my most devout and respectful wishes. 



Alb.Weber 



Physieian and Major of the French Expeditionary Army in Mexico and Chief of the 

 Hospital in San Luis Potosi 



to Dr. George Engelmann in St. Louis (Missouri) 



translated Manfred Thurmann 



