
          Cambridge 10th Nov. [November] 1843 


 My Dear Doctor,


 I trust you duly received a parcel which 
 I sent by express on Tuesday (freight paid), which I enquire after 
 expressly, as I was obliged to send it to Boston by an omnibus=
 driver, who may not have been honest or punctual. I sent
 Presl. I have since found nothing bearing on your point, but shall look 
 in Boston. I have only been in Boston once, Friday evening to
 to Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Greene is in rather poor health. I went 
 to hear Gliddon at the Odeaon (Lowell lecture), who seemed very
 dull to me. I admired the patience and even in [trust?] with which the 
 large audience listened. That is encouraging. Let me tell you a 
 piece of good news. The good fortune which has thus far attended me 
 is wonderful, but I must expect some check ere long in some way 
 or other. Mr. Lowell, on his own accord offered to order a first
 rate microscope for the Institute, to be used freely by us 
 naturalists when we wish, and asked me to give him some specifications.
 One of Ross's or Powell's best will probably
 be ordered by next steamer. 


 Many good books have come to our Library, (although
 the current periodicals are yet mostly delayed.). Among them,
 a completion of the Botanical Magazine & English Botany 
 the latest vols. [volumes] of French Institute, Archives du Muse [Museum]
 Sagras Civil & Natural History of Cuba, numerous plates 
 (which would aid in determining key-[Westens?]), Webb. & Berthelot
 'Canary Islands' (which has figures of the Great Dragon 
 tree, and other things that I must copy for illustrations)
 Cavanilles work complete. Ventenat [work.?] Malmaison
 (the only one in the country) &c. German orders are yet to 
 come.


 I have a letter from Mr. Fielding of Bolton Lodge Lancaster, 
 the proprietor of Presertt's herbm [herbarium] and much of Lambert's,
 apprizing me of a box on the way containing dried plants 
 for me. some of Gillies! [?] Dr�ge, C. Bod. &c &c.


 Dr. Pickering left here before my return (in same ship with 
 Dr. Anderson & Dr. Hawes), for Malta, the Barbary coast, 
 Upper Egypt, Bombay &c.!! The particular object is 
 to look after some races of men. 


 Nothing from Hooker, except a line of 30th August, entirely 
 relating to Dr. Pickering. From Dr. Boott , I have 
 a return of Vaccinia I sent him, with most interesting
        