
          Recd [Received] Oct. 28th
 Ansd [Answered] Novr [November] 11th                  


 Middletown October 20, 1835


 My Dear Friend


 Your letter of the 17th has just reached me. 
 It is now so long since I last heard from you I felt exceedingly
 desirous to know what you were doing &c Have several times
 resolved to visit the City personally to enquire about you
 and family. but my engagements have [added: been] such I found it 
 impossible to get away. I have also made several attempts 
 to visit our excellent friend Halsey and have as often been thwarted
 You will naturally expect I should give you some account
 of what I have been doing this long summer. This I will
 attempt in a few words. In the first place I have had a 
 class in Botany at the Wesleyan University and am happy
 to say I have formed some good Botanists, and have
 taken especial care to teach them to collect and dry
 large handsome specimens! I have thus been able 
 to add considerably to my Catalogue of the Plants of
 Middletown. I have also made notes some of which
 mas possibly be of use to you. I set my pupils at work
 on the viola and stimulated them by exhibiting my [added: dried] specimens
 and assuring them they might make a pretty full collection. 
 They entered upon the investigation with enthusiasm, and
 made splendid collections. I have many spare specimens.
 The number of species growing here is 17! I was never
 before satisfied with my dried specimens of the viola
 I think your Herbarium might even be improved from
 this quarter. This region proves exceedingly rich in 
 plants I hope in due time to print a Catalogue that will
 be creditable to the place and myself
        