
          Edinburgh June 26th 1823

My dear Sir:

Your letter dated Dec. 6th 1822 I did not
receive till the middle of May 1823. Not being as
very regular correspondent myself I readily forgive
your long silence, though I certainly was impatient 
to hear something of your proceedings in
the botanical department of Science; and am
sorry to find this has not engaged your attention
so much lately as usual—were I am mineralagist
I should write in a different strain
no doubt. Do not however forsake botany. Your
Country is so rich,  its vegetable resources so
inexhaustible and so unexplored, that, I
know no Country so equally fertile in inlands
and accessible. I have the great respect 
for mineralogy especially when conjoined with
chemistry and Geology— but at the same
time cannot avoid regarding the orgainized
world and in [shock?] anything exhibiting the
Phenomena of life as more satisfactory.

It is fortunate however all are not of my
opinion.

I omitted to mention when I acknowleged
your letter, to state that the parcel of Plants
arrived very long previously and in safety.
        