
          Recd. [Received] Aug. 12


 Cambridge. Aug. 8th 1844.


 My Dear Friend


 I got safely back (home I hardly feel
 like calling it just now) yesterday morning, and I commence
 a scrappy letter to you, on this large sheet, to which I shall
 add as points occur. The first point is an unpleasant
 one. Gibbes of Charleston wrote me last winter, and
 mentioned incidentally that he had not heard from you for
 a long time, and did not know what to make of it. I wrote
 him a line by Greene, and told him you were very busy, but 
 would surely reply to all his letters as soon as possible. On
 my return here I find his letter of 9th July apprising me 
 that he is on his way north, in which he says, 
 "I believe I told you that Dr. Torrey ceased to write to me after
 I gave up the agency of the Flora to Mr. Hart, and asked
 you the reason. On the 22d Feby [February], more than four
 months since, I wrote to him, asking him if I had given him 
 offence in any way, but have not yet received an answer."
 His further remarks show that he feels much hurt; and 
 he is and has [added: long] been in ill health, which probably makes
 him unduly sensitive. I have now written him at 
 New York (as he requested) strongly assuring him that I
 do not believe you are in any way offended with him, that
 either you never received the letter he speaks of asking an
 explanation, or  if so, must labor under the impression that
 it was at once responded to, and have told him that your
 next communication will no doubt remove all such false
 impressions from his mind. Pray write to him, at the
 New York Post Office, and also speak of it in your next
 letter to me, [crossed out: that] as he may be here sometime this
 month.


 Aug. 9. I have a brief letter from Hooker,
 but no particular news. No other letters from
 abroad. Prof [Thomas Charles] Hope of Edinburgh is dead. 
 I have been spending the morning at the Garden.
 All has gone backward since I left, nice plants
 lost, and I am much discouraged. I have nearly
 made up my mind not to lose much more of time
 and anxiety and expense until we can get rid of
 Mr. Carter, who is to [too] old to change his plans, and get
 a young man from Kew or Horticult. [Horticultural] Socy. [Society] who is
 up to the day and is tractable in his place.


 A line from Mr. Lowell informs me that he
 has assigned me again the end of the ensuing cause, viz. to
        