
          Washington City Septr [September ]14th, 1849.

My dear Sir;

After the many favours you have 
shown me, I feel perfectly shamed of myself [crossed out: in]
in being so long in writing you, but to tell the truth 
my good Sir, I have had little leasure [leisure] of late, having 
been harassed in various ways during the whole 
of last summer, so pray excuse the seeming neglect 
till I have the pleasure of seeing you face to face.

I hope that your self and family are well, and 
that you at leasure [leisure] moments are finding pleasure 
in examining some botanical novilty [novelty]; I think that 
the last time I saw Mr Drayton, he told me that you 
had got all our Oregon and Californian plants worked 
up, if so, I hope you have also been able to get [crossed out: all?]
[crossed out: made?] all the drawings of the same [crossed out: illegible] [added: made] that you 
wanted, or at least that they are in a fair way.

I have got near 100 sps [specimens] of Ferns drawn, these fill
about 50 plates, the most of which are already engraved,
but no proofs have been sent to me yet; I have also got 
through some time ago with the descriptive part of the work. 
that is, if we except one or two small genera, of only a 
few species each, which I intend to take on to Phila [Philadelphia]
        