
          Cambridge 15th Sept. [September] 1842. 


 My Dear Friend


 Your letter of the 6th inst. [instant] 
 awaited my return from the Wh. Mts. [White Mountains] last evening
 and I must drop you a hasty reply by this day's 
 mail. I started for the Mountains almost at a 
 moment's warning. Emerson, who was to accompany 
 me, being called down to Maine, wrote me unexpectedly 
 to meet him on Monday or Tuesday of 
 last week at the Notch. I had just time to look 
 up Tuckerman the very morning of his arrival! and 
 to get his consent to meet me on Monday morning 
 at the Cars for Dover. Monday evening we reached 
 Conway N.H. [New Hampshire] 30 miles from the White Mts. [Mountains] (full 
 in sight); and Tuesday, in a one-horse wagon, we 
 reached and botanized up the notch to Crawford's 
 at its head. Emerson had been there, and returned to 
 his father's in Maine, having learned his brother's 
 arrival from France in the ship that brought 
 Tuckerman. We made two ascents to the higher 
 mountains, slept out one night, cold weather, a good 
 deal of rain, but had some very fine weather 
 for views. We saw the ocean distinctly, 
 which is only possible under favorable circumstances. 
 I made a fine collection of living plants, which was 
 the chief object. Although too late for botanizing, 
 yet I got many good alpines in fruit, some 
 few in flower. When I see you, which 
 I trust will be soon, I will tell you particulars, 
 and bring specimens of the few plants collected that 
 will be needed in your herb. [herbarium].


 I have seen the Presidt [President] this morning, and 
 find that Mr. Lowell has returned, but all are 
        