
          Hillsborough N.C. Ap. 16th /46 [i.e. 1846]


 Dear Sir, 


 It is a long time since you have seen this
 hand of mine, which used to inflict a frequent epistle
 upon your patience, but I doubt if you have forgotten
 its crabbed aspect. I should like, if agreeable to you, to
 renew the intercourse, though on a new subject. I have
 pretty much worked out in this State, whatever is of much
 interest among the Vasculares, especially in my immediate
 vicinity, & as I crave some recreation of the sort, have been
 latterly turning attention to the Cellulares, especially Lichenes
 & Fungi. My Firewood alone has kept me pretty
 busy the past winter on these Orders. The former I have
 sent to [Edward] Tuckerman. The latter I know of no one to send
 to in this country, unless it be yourself. I see by [Louis David] Schweinitz'
 paper in the Phil. Trans. that he had received some Fungi
 from you, & it occurred to me that you may have
 received not a few from him. I wish as far as possible
 to identify his species, & shall be very glad to get from
 you any authentic specimens, even as a loan. But I shall
 value any Fungi you can let me have. I am at that
 stage of progess in the business, where the least aid is felt
 & appreciated. I have made applications to [Miles Joseph] Berkeley of England
 and to [Elias Magnus] Fries, but it will be some time, if they are disposed
 to accept my proposals, before I can derive any benefit
 from them. In the mean time I would avail myself of any
 nearer aid that can be had.
        