
          Recd [received] Dec. 9th


 San Francisco Nov 28. 70. [1870]


 Dr. John Torrey New York


 My dear Sir,


 If I should wait any
 longer you might consider me
 careless and ungrateful and
 yet my delay is due to your
 saying at the close of your letter, 
 "in a few days I shall write 
 again and tell you what the
 Botanists are doing."


 Relying upon this I delayed until
 now.


 First of all, I wish to thank you
 for your kindness, indeed it was
 quite surprising to see once more
 your own hand writing on this far
        