
          yours, but the turmoil I have been in for four years past, [added: (for I work my students hard with exercises and
excursions, as well as examination)] has prevented
all correspondences; and for some years previous to that, I became so disgusted
with Botany, or rather with those that ought not to have sacrificed Botany
at the shrine of state politics, that I resolved to give it up for ever. I 
almost think that the last letter I got from you was in 1841, granting me
your testimonial, and that I never had the grace to thank you for it; but
the conduct of the rascally Whigs then at the head of our government gave me a [fit?] of the [offer?]

which was only removed by the handsome [crossed out: Governm] conduct of the conservative,
next thing is asking me to accept the chair, after Dr Balfour went to Edinburgh
and allowing [crossed out: of] no time for any competitor to annoy me; but indeed not a soul
in Britain was disposed to do so, so anxious were all to wipe out the affront
given to the political appointment of Dr Balfour, as well as to win me back to
science, and after all, now that I am as enthusiastic as ever, I can do nothing
but teach the young: and as to a real Botanist, none ever come here, so that I have
had no personal intercourse with any, for the dismal period of 4 years.

Dr John Torrey
Professor of Chemistry
and Botany
New-York
        