
          Newburgh 8 Oct 1842

My dear Dr. Torrey

Absence from home has prevented
my giving an earlier reply to the letter I had the
pleasure of receiving from you by Mr. [M.B.] Halsted. I have
inquired very frequently for you in New York this
summer in the hope of getting a sight of you
again but I have not had that good fortune.
I have to regret very much that you have gone from
New York as well. You have departed & almost all my
botanical acquaintances there - and Dr. Gray too!
What a scientific [descent?] I passed your McDougal
street [home?] where I have passed so many pleasant
hours & had almost a mind to go in & see what
sort of people lived in it. Whether the herbarium
was filled with sage and lavender!

Your last led me to hope thaat we might have
the pleasure of seeing you here this fall. Cannot
you steal away with Mrs. T. for a few days
in this delightful autumn weather? The mountains
in the autumn [?] are truly magnificent now
seen through the softening hhazy atmosphere.
        