
          Cambridge 4th Decr. [December] 1847.


 Dear Doctor


 Many thanks for your two letters, 
 the earliest of 2nd November, which I have long neglected 
 to answer. I have been as you conjecture, extremely 
 busy. 


 A week hence I can send you nearly all 
 the bot. [botanical] illustrations, if you desire them, or shall you 
 leave that matter until after New Year's holidays? 


 I am very much obliged for the pleasing information
 you give about Agassiz, which has gratified his 
 friends here much. 


 I heard from Hooker at the same time you did. 
 The Mosses are now printing off for the Manual, 
 and a long string it makes, Tuckerman's Lichens 
 then bring up the rear. With the Index I fear it will 
 run to 750 pages!!!, besides the Linnaean Conspectus
 and the Glossarial introduction which I have still 
 to write. You see that, to accomplish my object 
 of bringing it into general use, I can put it at no 
 price which will make it fully accessible, and yet
 afford any remuneration for this full half years hard 
 work. This done the Genera come 
 right in hand. I must take up Fendler's
 Santa Fe plants also, as soon as they reach me.
        