
          Recd Aug 7th 


 Palatka S Florida July 2nd 1843


 My dear Sir


 I arrived in Florida about the
 first of June having taken a packet at N.Y.
 for Charleston & the steam boat for Savannah
 & again Steam Boat to this place from where [crossed out: a]
 I proceeded immediately up the [crossed out: new?] river in a 
 row boat as far as Lake Monroe. I was fortunate
 in meeting with that opportunity since 
 communication with that region is [sent?] at this [crossed out: that]
 season of the year. At Lake Monroe is a 
 small settlement under the supervision of Maj [Major]
 Taylor from whom I received kind treatment
 From this place went with a party in boats
 up to Lake Harney visiting Lake Jessup on
 the route. On our return crossed Lake Monroe
 & walked 23 miles into the interior to Fort
 Gatlin or rather where the Fort was. In these
 several excursions I met with many
 very many strange plants but labored
 under great disadvantage for the want of 
 paper as the men who rowed me up from 
 Palatka refused to take more than one ream
 & at almost every step I met with [crossed out: strange] [added: to me new]
 plants. During these excursions I underwent
 much fatigue from sleeping or rather attempting

        