
          Raleigh, Nov. 12th 1842.


 Dear Sir, 


 It is indeed a long time since we
 exchanged letters. I have however all along supposed
 that it amounted to the same thing, whether I addressed
 my letters to you or [Asa] Gray. I had deemed you as much
 identified in botanical matters as man & wife in conjugal.
 I got into the way of writing to Dr. Gray because
 of his reporting on my plants. I have had little of
 interest to communicate myself, so that I do not
 suppose that you have suffered essentially by my
 correspondence taking a new direction.


 I am glad to learn that [Samuel Botsford] Buckley is to publish
 his plants. His report about [Ferdinand] Rugel roused me,
 & I immediately sent [Benjamin] Silliman an account of ten or
 a dozen plants which I deemed new, begging him to
 insert the paper in his next number, & giving the
 reasons of my urgency. I think it a matter of consequence
 to head Rugel's friends, as you say; otherwise
 I should merely sent [sic] my notes to yourself &
 Gray as heretofore. If I am not too late, it will
 be well perhaps that I inform you what plants
 I have described in the above paper, as far as
 they relate to [crossed out: plants] species in Buckley's possession. 
        