
          Smithsonian Inst
 Sept 6th 1853


 My Dear Dr


 I arrived in this city
 on Saturday night in the midst of
 what [Merriam?] of New York
 would call a hot cycle.


 I find that all things relative
 to the Smithsonian have gone on
 as usual during my abscence
 A large pile of letters have
 accumulated which will
 require some time and considerable
 labour to reduce.


 I attended yesterday morning
 the meeting of the Light House
 Board and was pleased to find
 that the Secretary of the Treasury
        