
          desk during the month of August! I replied that it was
 impossible, but on reflecting more on the matter it accorded
 so with my wishes or rather with my necessities that
 I know not what to say. It seems hardly safe to my health to
 accept but if I decline may it not be the turning point of
 my life may not I have written my last sermon? It has always
 been my grief that while devoted to sacred studies my support
 has been invariably derived from labors in secular pursuits.
 So completely is this true that I have received in all
 considerably less than $15 for preaching in all the
 9 years since I left the Seminary. Now $10 a Sabbath
 is offered me for 4 or 5 Sabbaths. If those weeks be sacredly
 devoted to Theology & the avails to theological books might
 it not be a spiritual & intellectual benefit for which it would
 be worth to risk my health a little? What shall I say?


 Nothing new occurs. I saw [inserted: Prof] Dr Smith yesterday - he was going
 down to Dr Becks - says Dr B. has too many advisers - thinks Dr
 Swett does better - he adheres to one viz J M Smith M.D.


 What is "Canchalagua - a Californian plant of rare virtues"!
 They are trying to displace Sarsaparilla with it. Chironia Chilensis
 has born a name somewhat resembling Canchalagua & has been
 used for similar purposes. Is Chironia Chilensis a native or
 cultivated in California?


 It is 3 weeks I believe since I put a plant into press.
 perhaps only a fortnight. I shall put in a Magnolia macroph.
 this morning & may get a few in Williamsburg to-day or West
 of Hoboken on Monday. Mrs Torreys visit has been very pleasant
 to me tho' I have not seen her much.


 I hope to see Dr Gray on Monday morning, but would be
 happily disappointed if he should continue with you over the
 sabbath as he ought & not come on till Monday.


 I hope you will in your next mark out definitely
 a task for me for the coming 6 weeks _ Either the review
 of the Genera or some original investigations to strengthen
 rather than test my powers, which I feel are as yet incompetent
 to the work. I hear that Beck has out a new botany
 closely resembling the Manual. Harpers publish it. Have you
 seen or heard of it? It is very like Beck if you have not. I fear
 he has got rope enough now. A little reduction of the price of the Manual
 may be requisite in this view altho I think it cheap now. I have
 written this letter with a badly constructed fountain pen
 which has in no way facilitated my labor or improved its
 appearance. being as capricious as an ill bred cow about
 giving down.


 Yours


 I F Holton.

        