
          And. Dec 31/61]

St Louis Octob 26 1861

My Dear Doctor

Though our
correspondence has been
carried on very negligently
and has stopped, I believe for
a couple of years as if
years were as days only 
I very often had the good intention
to write and tell you how
we have come on here and how
we have gradually become naturalized
again in Missouri, and so much
so that we feel and hope with
four fifths of our Missourians for
a speedy termination of this
terrible war. But no more of
this now.

I am led to write you just
now on account of the nice botanical
collecdtion brought home by Dr Parry,
an (incomplete) set of which
he has communicated to me.

Among other things he has sent
some Pines as also my brother
        