
          New Bedford 12 mo [month] [December] 10th 1832.


 My dear Friend


 Soon after the receipt of thy last of the 14th
 ult [ultimo], I mentioned the subject of the oil to my friend A Robeson
 who furnished it, and who said he had neglected to send the
 bill of it to Hussey & MacKay, but that he would do it. I
 think, therefore, by this time they will be ready to be paid
 for it; if they should not be, it will be the seller's fault,
 and it will be soon enough to pay for it, when he is ready to
 receive it. The apparatus appears to be of excellent
 quality, and no doubt will prove so, we have as yet had no
 Lecture on Chemistry in our weekly bill of fare, since it was
 received, but I have no doubt some of our caterers will soon
 avail themselves of it.


 To hear of rare & curious shells is always pleasant,
 to see them would be more so, but to possess them is the very
 acme of enjoyment on their account. I am glad to hear that
 the 5th number of Say's Conchology is published. I have
 seen three only, and these I have not yet been able to procure.
 I enquired for them in vain when I was in New York
 last spring, and through one of our booksellers in Philadelphia
 also with the same ill success. I am in hopes to meet
 with them in Boston whither I go in about three weeks
 to spend the Legislature Session which will occupy
 probably the remainder of the winter. I have very much
 wanted them within a few days [inserted: past] to assist me in making

        