
          Recd. Jany 12th                 


 Middletown Connt [Connecticut] Jany 3d 1838.


 My Dear friend


  In the course of last year I received two letters
 from you one dated April 1st, the other dated Aug 22d
 Ever since the opening of Steam Navigation, I had purposed
 visiting you.  In the meantime every leisure moment
 was employed in revising and rearranging my Herbarium
 as well as glewing [glueing] the specimens on paper. I have now
 gone through and completed all the most difficult genera.
 I have besides sorted and arranged my large stock of duplicates
 for exchanges. My progress in this business has been very
 slow owing to the constant interruptions of my medical practice.
 During the past year my professional duties have pressed 
 to hard upon me I was unable to do much writing, especially
 correspondence.  The past 12 months I have perhaps
 worked harder than at any former period. I feel as if I
 cannot relinquish the pursuits and pleasures of science, especially
 my favorite Botany. While my friends here [but pressure?]
 more and more into practice. 


 All the relaxation I get is a visit to NY once in one
 or two years! to see and profit by an exchange of plants
 and enjoy a sight of your rare Books, and the rare things in your
 rich Herbarium.


 I had purposed giving you a sketch of what I had done since
 I last saw you, but I find I cannot now do it in the compass
 of a letter. Last evening I called on Dr Fisk he informed
 me of your visit to Philadelphia &c observed that you
 had expected to see me last fall in N York.


 When you have got through the hurry of your chemical lectures, I
 will make an effort to spend one or at most 2 days with you provided
 this will be perfectly agreeable with you, in that case I will

        