
          My fellow traveller has however been still more unfortunate
 than myself. I wrote to you of our plan for travelling.
 We had made all our preparations and were to go in ten
 days when he was seized with an inflammation of the
 bowels and has kept his bed ever since and probably will for
 a fortnight to come, though he is getting well. I think it
 necessary to specify what has been the matter with us [crossed out: because]
 in order to prevent uncharitable suspicions. As [James Ellsworth] DeKay
 knows how it is in Paris I suppose he will look very knowing
 when he hears that we have [added with caret: been] indisposed, but we have [realy?] 
 escaped as yet. Our places of course are partly given
 up. I think I shall leave here in three weeks, make [words lost on torn paper]
 town of the Rhine, [? ?] in Switzerland with 
 Italy in September.


 I suppose you intend to take advantage of the opportunities
 you will soon have to establish an intercourse with the
 South [Americas?] There are now greater facilities in N.Y.
 for an extensive scientific correspondence than in any 
 place whatever than I can think of. I almost wish I was with
 you & [Abraham] Halsey. We might form a triumvirate by no way
 insignificant. I hope you will collect a great many
 specimens this summer, and send me some [here?] next winter.
        