
          though I may go on a visit. I
 object chiefly to the climate there,
 otherwise I should have been in
 the eastern army during the war.


 I could never think of practising
 there, & in fact have not tried 
 to do much that way out here
 on account of poor health making
 it necessary for me to take very
 good care of myself. You know
 our family is not strong & one of
 my sisters died of consumption
 while another has white swelling.
 I have been [?] myself
 for a year or two, & can't [?]
 over the mountains or walk as
 far as I used to therefore can
 not do very much at collecting.
 I do not think there is much possibility 
 of my making Nat. [Natural] Hist. [History]
 a profession that will pay the expenses, 
 though I have lived by it
        