
          Washington D.C. Oct [October] 17th 1850.

Professor Jno [John] Torrey

My dear Sir,

Yours of the 2d [second] is before me,
and by it I feel felt satisfied on learning that the 
box containing the Cacti had not been forwarded; 
at the time my last was wrote I was afraid that 
it had got lost by the way.

Congress in the bigness of their heart, before the 
adjournment, voted $25,000 for the farther publication
of the results of the Ex. Ex. [Exploring Expedition] and before this appropriation 
is expended I think that we will be able to have 
the Fern Book out. But I regret having to inform 
you that the Library Committee have decided that 
the English specific definition is to be inserted in
the work, immediately after its Latin translation,
this decision so far as I can learn, was drawn 
from the Committee through Mr Drayton placing 
before them proofs of the work in the form we had 
adopted, and Captain Wilkes is of the same opinion 
as the Comtee [Committee], and when I was remonstrated against their
decision, I was told that it was a rule laid down 
by the Comtee [Committee] at the commencement of the publication, 
"that in the Nat [Natural] History part of the work of the Ex. Ex. [Exploring Expedition]
[crossed out: that] the specific Char. [Character] should be printed in both Latin and English, so that every one could read and understand 
the work," and nevertheless that I shewed 
        