
          of Divine Providence in the Fall. This looks to me the
 course marked out for me by my Master at the present time.


 Till recently more important studies have crowded
 out my botany. Event [Even] the scant time I have judged proper
 for it has often been necessiraly [necessarily] devoted to Theology; but now
 the tables are turned. I am delivering two courses of lectures.
 & from morning till night almost every moment
 is devoted to botany. I now do not preach half the time
 half finished sermons are left to the mellowing influences
 of time & botany takes the place of theological study _ the classics
 & often intrudes even on my meals- I never was
 harder pressed for time than now. the lateness of the
 season admits no delay.


 I feel that I have done your Flora some
 service in awakening the energies of Dr Mead. He had
 done absolutely nothing for some years & when I found
 him had not probably a dozen specimens in his house.
 I fear I have done him a great injury for now every
 hour & every dollar he can command goes to enlarge
 his collection _ his first specimens were wretched
 but now they are really beautiful _ equal I fancy
 to Shorts. Something here is owing perhaps to my
 suggestions but much more to the remonstrances of
 Dr Engelmann _ who once told him very kindly in
 his peculiar english that the Carices he sent

        