
          Wms. College Aug. 7th 1820.

Dear Sir,

Your letter of July 25th came on Friday last.
You other was much longer - [I?] have a [reason?] why you
did not get one from me sooner. It may be well to mention
that your letters come to Albany - & our Mail leaves Albany
on the arrival of the Thursday Boat. Hence if your letter does
not come in that boat, it must lie there till next week.

I happened to look into [Aiken?] the other day, & learned from
him the Wavellite [?] stalactical in Eng. This [settles?] [ours?],
I think - it must be Wavellite. Perhaps however a close analy
sis will show too great diff. in the ingredients. In one instance,
I suspected fluoric acid in it - for its vapour certainly arose in
small quantity. But as I did not [see?] it in other cases, I was led
to suspect that I used a glass which had a minute portion of
that acid on it, left in some former expt. - tho' I could not
recollect any. I am glad you [kept?] away your [dandies?] - I have
no such troubles here, as I [mean?] to be chief, & am not sur
rounded by inquisitors. I will see that you have more of this
mineral from Emmons or myself.

I have never
recd. a Catalogue from Mr. [Prince?]. He may have sent one
to our former Prst. - but I have none, I am sure. We
have no [gardens?] attached to the college. I have one, but it is
only for common purposes, & I can hardly find room for
other things. I am not able to see as any of those seeds
of the grasses you sent me, have [vegitated?]. I know not
the reason. My promised box is put up - & I write this
to tell you, it will be in N. Y. at the Steam Boat office
on Thursday or Friday this week. It contains Chlorite &
Chlorite Slate & Gray-wacke. Also a host of plants    
        