
          Have you Curtis's Asclepias aceratoides? or shall 
 I send it? 


 Capt. [Captain] Wilkes, I hear, was at the 
 Observatory here yesterday. I saw nothing of him. 
 Tuckerman will do no more than his Lichens.
 Sullivant has been applied to, says that 
 he will be at Washington, and see, in April. 
 Perhaps he may be useful to you there. I 
 like the idea of Wilkes enquiring after you, shows 
 he has been placed on the right track. 


 If I can keep him Casey must remain here 
 till May, work enough, here, for nine men. 
 We found the embryo in Croomia, very doubtful 
 dicotyledon. Will send you a proof when I get 
 one from Prestele. 


 Sorry about Maggy's eyes. Much love 
 to Herbert. 


 A long letter from Alph. DC. [Alphonse De Candolle] came
 to-day, which, as it is full of a botanical matters, 
 I send you tho' bulky. You see that a portrait 
 is on the way for you, the one you wanted. 


 Finding a good [added: duplicate] specimen of Scirpus mucronatus,
 [real?], of Europe I enclose it to you, Perhaps you 
 have not so good.
        