
          Cambridge, 21st November. 1845 


 My Dear Friend 


 Your favor of the 17th with the
 very opportune $50 enclosed reached me 
 yesterday afternoon. Your former letter also 
 is still unacknowledged. The box I sent a 
 week ago, with the letter nailed on the cover, I 
 trust came safely to the Med. [Medical] College. 


 As I must write in haste, and in a rambling 
 way, I will first speak of a matter which may come
 to something, and therefore should be kept in mind, tho'
 entre nous. Lieut. [Lieutenant] Davis U.S.M., a capital fellow 
 and with a true appreciation for science, had the 
 offer a few weeks ago of 2nd in command and 
 principal surveyor of a little expedition of 2 small vessels,
 to survey the coast of Nootka Sound & the rest of 
 Oregon. As he has a good position in the Coast Survey 
 and Bache wants to keep him, he declined. The 
 principal selected by the Secy [Secretary] also declined, and so 
 it dropt [dropped]. But Davis is going to Washington soon, 
 and he may have the offer of the affair all in 
 his own hands. If he does he will take it. In that 
 case, there are 2 berths that maybe filled one by a 
 young botanist, the other by a Zoologist, each $500 per annum
 viz. Capt's [Captain's] clerk and Purser's clerk, the duties of both 
 of which Capt. [Captain] offers to perform himself, wherever the
        