
          Ansd. May 7th

Pittsfield Ap. 22. [1835/1836?].

Dear Sir,

I hoped to receive your letter at an
earlier day. But, I am glad to know that
I can not now, at least, have any more
Carices. I am indeed, surprised at the
tone of your letter, & I can not think
that I merited the rebuke; & if I do
merit it, I can not think you have
done it in a stile, christian, or
even courtious. I may be mistaken,
but I do not see how a right temper
could dictate it, & especially towards
one who has commended you the
honor of high esteem & been careful
of your good name. As to my meriting
the censure; I told you when you
gave me the specimens, in these words,
I wish you would let me name it in
my way; & you said, yes, you will
name as you please. I did not
suppose I was doing otherwise than
what you wished. But in truth also,
I had so little regard to the author
of the name, that I did not know
whose it was till I had looked [on/over?] your
enquiring in your last letter before
this, whether I had [?] the description
of them, & was to publish them.

Next, as to the propriety of my changing
C. Mertensii, to the other [?] & giving
it my name? Are [added: now] the two cases similar?
Had he told me what you did before he published
his? Cutting as you [?] the giving to be,
        