
          Cambridge, April 3d, 1857 


 My Dear Doctor, 


 The good Thurber has been 
 with me for some days; and we 
 have just finished what we can do 
 for Grasses. He is quite au fait
 with them. But my bundles were 
 in such a state that little could be 
 done except by my constant attention. 
 Fortunately it enabled me to get a great 
 mass of things ready for my herbm. [herbarium]
 & laid out for gluer.


 Thurber is not aware, & I do not 
 wish him to be, how inconvenient it is to 
 me to have him here just now, when
 I particularly want quiet for some 
 writing &c. which requires uninterrupted 
 concentration of mind. I can now 
 do only little fiddling things, but 
 not the work I wish. 


 This morning I got your letters 
 of "Feb. 27" & April 1, and I will
 notice them in order. 


 I see I am writing on a 1/2 sheet. 
 I will begin on a whole one.
        