
          Cambridge, 23d July 1857 


 Well, my dear Dr.


 Here are the girls. They 
 dropped in and took us all by 
 surprize, as their announcing 
 letter never came (stopped in somebody's 
 pocket?); but their visit 
 is not the less welcome, nor the 
 less timely. The house was 
 just empty, and it is a real pleasure 
 to Jane to have them here quietly 
 as if at home. They do not put her 
 out in the least. 


 I am driving off new, and 
 electrotype edition of Bot. [Botanical] Text Book 
 as fast as possible. So much other 
 work till just now that the printer 
 is right on my heels. But now I 
 mean to get ahead of him. This once 
 done and off my hands I shall not 
 have to touch it again. It must last 
 my time. As soon as I get
 5 days ahead of the printers, I will take 
 up your Boundary Compositae. 


 I shall not go to Montreal. It 
 has cost Jane & I both something to give 
 it up, the more so as we have kind invitation 
 from Danson. But I cannot afford 
 the time, nor the expense. What with advancing 
 to Hochstein the amount of his bill against
 Ex. Exped. [Exploring Expedition] for drawing, to Sprague, &c &c

        