
          long accustomed to think of with the highest admiration for their
 genius & [acquirements?] I have as yet had no opportunity of
 getting acquainted with any of them, but I have some intention
 of removing in the spring down to the neighborhood of the Garden
 and shall then be able to examine things at my leisure and possibly
 as we say in the vulgar tongue "get in with the old cocks." I have
 not presents to make them except the minerals you gave me. As for
 plants, there is no safe means of sending there here, for I have no person
 to look after them at Havre, otherwise I should like to have my duplicates
 sent on with a few Catalogues and any books or papers relating
 to the U.S. that might be interesting here. The Erie Canal seems
 to excite considerable attention in Europe, I should like to be informed
 of its progress. 


 I was much surprised when I came to Paris to hear [David] Townsend
 had been here. He has had the misfortune to break his leg by
 jumping out of a carriage when the [added with caret: horses] ran away, and has been some
 time confined at a town in the South of France but has nearly
 recovered and wrote lately to Stevenson that he expected to proceed
 to Italy. [Greenboro?] is here and I do not know what I should
 do for a companion if he were not, as Jones lives in the family 
 of his friends Gracci & [Zacoreni?]. Stevenson whom I find a very
 friendly good fellow is applying himself closely to his studies
 and will return home a very well informed physician. He
 has besides travelled a good deal.

        