
          Quincy 21 March 1845


 Dear Sir


 I have an opportunity to write and though
 I have nothing important to communciate I write. The
 bearer may call on your family if in N.Y. if not
 I shall give him instructions to spare your time


 The Philadelphia box is soon expected, & if it brings
 my long expected flora it will give me greater joy than
 any thing I have seen for a long time. If not the satisfaction
 of meeting it will be entirely swallowed up in
 seeing you. I am still on my lectures - chiefly relying on
 the black board but making a few experiments. I am resolved
 if I gave a botanical course this spring it
 shall be an exceedingly superficial one & short for
 I must travel & press plants. I hope a letter soon
 from you in answer to my last this will not need
 an answer, If however you lost my last as is quite
 possible I would wish you to inform me with little
 delay what course of collecting in Illinois for a
 month & what calls at St Louis Louisville Cincinte [Cincinnati]
 etc. would best aid the Flora. I want to bring in
 something splendid, if not from my own gathering,
 from Short Engelmann etc. An answer to my numbered
 specimens would be of particular service to my friends
 & might save future applications from them to
 you. The names if in a separate letter might be
 directed to Dr Mead Augusta _ the other letter to 
 me at Quincy.

        