
          Middletown April 12 1828

My Dear Friend

I was gratified with your favor of the 1st of the 
month because I was desirous to know what you was
about. The fatiguing part of lecturing being over you will
have a little time for relaxation & botany.

I am at all times engaged with chemistry & mineralogy.
The lectures on Chemistry are attended by all students,
but Mineralogy to a class.  I shall have to go on with
Chemistry for some time. Hitherto I go along with
experimenting with ease to myself & as to the lecturing
part I take care to write [crossed out: illegible] out my lectures
though I find it is not necessary to write out as much
as I had expected. I shall soon have to give
Lectures on Botany. These various duties will take
up more of my time in the summer than will be altogether
agreeable.

Yesterday I recd [received] a letter from Baron Lederer in which he
informed me he had left 2 packages of Dried
Plants for me at Chilton's. Will you my dear sir
have the goodness to see that they are safely put on Board
the Steam Boat (any of the Hartford Boats). One package he 
says is from Col. Weldon & the other from Jaquin. [crossed out: c]
I am glad to hear you are about to put your fine collection
in  order. Your Herbarium will make quite a display.
Of late I have been so much charmed with Chemistry
that I have not paid that attention to Botany I
formerly did. I know nothing with will revive the
Botanical Mania equal [crossed out: to? pass?] to passing a few days
with you.

        