
          Wms. College Feb. 13th 1821

Dear Sir,

Tho' your letter came in due time, I have
delayed to write principally because nature was so fast
locked up, & little occured to interest you. But lest
I should form the habit of being a dilatory correspondent,
I have concluded not to wait for nature to open her
stores in order to open my mouth to you. I was much
gratified with your [account?] to Phila [Philadelphia] & of your adventures.
I could have wished to have been with you, had it been
possible. I do not wonder at your gratification in finding
Nuttall, & enjoyed not a little your nocturnal, not to
say naked, visit. I thought the more of your pleasure,
because I have so often desired to cast my eye upon
your [honour?], & to take, viva voce, on some topics of
Nat. Hist. But on a late trip to Albany, I found a Lady,
with whom you are acquainted  Miss Bush, in
George Websters family, She was a school-mate
of [?], tho' older & I have often seen her since she
lived in Albany. But it was no little gratifica
tion to me to hear of you, from one who had seen
you more than once. [?], tho' Eaton has seen
you often, I see him not much oftener than you.

I heard Dr. Beck deliver his introductory letter [lecture?]
on Chemistry, & saw hin a moment. As I was
on business, & wanted to take a peep at the noisy
political men of the day, in the Assembly, I had
no time to call on him afterwards. The lecture
was well done, but I think, that with other
        