
          81 Jane Street
 13 May / 50 [1850]


 My dear friend, 


 It is so very long
 since I heard of, or from you,
 that I am glad of an excuse, for
 extracting a few lines from you. 


 Last week, I received a Box from
 Dr. [Alvan Wentworth] Chapman, & there is in it a
 small package for you. Shall I
 send it to Princeton, & how? 
 The Box contains his entire stock
 of duplicates, literally in bulk, 
 matted & packed together curiously
 enough. However, tho' some of the
 specimens are destroyed by insects, 
 many are in good order, & I am
 bringing the chaos into manageable
 condition, as fast as I can, but it will
 be a very long job, I perceive.
        