
          I have adopted a plan for letter writing, 
 to botanical correspondents, which I recommend 
 as a saving of time, & thought. 


 Where there is anything to say, I write a
 scrap like this, or much less, put 
 it in an addressed envelope. When there 
 is any thing more, I add another scrap,
 and so on till the envelope is full of it, or
 it is worth while to dispatch it, so the 
 letter grows up by inches. 


 Nothing from abroad last steamer, 
 Hooker, tho' I know they were duly 
 received, has not acknowledged yet the 
 Musci Allegh. [Alleghanienses] except he has written to 
 Sullivant directly. Nor has Benth. [Bentham?]
 to whom I sent a copy. 


 In a very few weeks I
 shall be dispatching parcels to Paris,
 Hamburgh [Hamburg], Munich, Halle & Leipsic [Leipzig].
 Good chance to take anything you may 
 desire to send. I will add 
 more Monday morning Deo favente. 
 Am very tired now. My love to all.
 am very sorry, and somewhat troubled 
 at the long silence on the part of 
 Mrs. T. [Torrey] and all at Clermont. It is true though 
 that I have written no letters worth answering 
 for a long time. Yours ever
 A. Gray
        