
          Recd Febry [February] 17th
Answer'd Febry [February] 22nd

Charleston Febry [February] 7th 1837

My Dear Sir,

My last from Florida informed you
that I was about to set out for this place with a view
of getting a house for my future residence.
I have been here nearly two weeks and have been
successfull [successful] in my main object, that of procuring a 
house, having obtained a very pleasant one in the
healthiest part of the city, encompassed by two or three
acres! of beautiful shubbery, the former habitation of 
Mr. Poinsett. It has the further merit of being near to
Dr. Backman, whom you must know by reputation, & 
perhaps personally. Indeed he told me that he had
lately written to you & that an accidental circumstance
had for sometime interrupted your correspondence. 
I trust that will not continue longer, for I think
Dr. B [Backman] an estimable man, and a good naturalist.
Mr. [Hudribon?] has been for sometime domiciled with
him, & I have spent some pleasant hours with them.
Mr. A. will leave soon on an expedition to Louisiana
and some other parts. He expects to return here in 
May, and soon after to proceed to Europe to finish
his great work.

One of the first [crossed out : things] objects of my inquiry was the 
Herbarium of Elliott, and this I had the satisfaction
to find in the possession of Dr. Backman. I have however
defered [deferred] to a time of more leisure an examination
of it. It is not so large as I expected, but it seems to be
in good order. It has been lent to Dr. B [Backman] by one of Mr.
        