
          NYork 19 Nov 1850


 To Prof Shark


 Dear Sir


 The Liberal proposal
 of yourself & brother to devote $10,000
 to a Botanical exploration of W. Africa
 has occupied my thoughts for some
 time. Two of my former pupils & two
 other of my personal friends have gone
 there of whom two I believe still
 survive. Another friend of mine lived
 there some years. All these were Missionaries
 laboring in a cause worthy
 of laying down life for. Botany will
 not justify such risks nor, I hope,
 will it require so much.


 Several motives combine to lead
 me to enquire more particularly
 about your plans. Among others
 I have an intense desire to see a
 tropical flora. I have been in all
 the states of the Union except the
 Carolinas Ga. Fla. Ala. Tex. & California.
 None of these journeys was ostensibly for
 the sake of Botany, but the want of Means
 has alone prevented my visiting the W. Indies
 for that purpose alone.

        