
          neutralize unfair opposition

All things relative to the Smithsonian
are now apparently in a prosperous
condition with the exception of the
publication of a book by owen on
architecture under the direction
not of the Institution but of the
building committee This you may
recollect was ordered while he was
a Regent and before the plans had
been fully matured. The Board
are now fully aware of the [impolicy?]
of the publication but no one wishes
to meddle with it.

What would you say to the proposition
of you preparing a report on botanical
physiology? giving the [?] of your lectures
on this subject particularly a developement
of the theory of morphology illustrated
with wood cuts. I think
a report on the present study of this
subject would be highly interesting
to the general reader and
important to you. It is one of
the objects of the S. I. to do justice
        