
          Newburgh Sept 3d. 1844


 Nothing would have afforded me greater
 pleasure than to have met you during your recent
 visit to West Point, but your letter owing th punctuality
 of the mail was not received until wednesday morning
 then the fear of intruding upon your limited tiem forbade
 my going. Many thanks for the Catskill plants
 and the trouble you have taken to preserve them.
 They will add greatly to my Herbarium which as
 yet contains few specimens not collected by myself.
 Misfortune seems to attend all that have been sent
 from other places. Mr Yorge of Georgia collected a great 
 number, but the gentleman to whose care they were
 Committed unfortunately left them on the way. There
 is however some slight hope they will not be entirely
 lost. It is pleasant to hear that the Students have
 at last been convinced there is some beauty & pleasure
 in the study of plants. Strange it is they should
 not have percieved it before. Perhaps it was owing to 
 their retilitarian notions & the fear of ridicule. I well
 recollect what a goodly share of it was given me for “picking 
 weeds.” Have any of them taken up the Catalogue?
 have you received your fine Microscope from France?
 Mine has been a source of great and varied instruction
 this summer. Of late the Pollen has been quite an object
        