
          Recd. Jany [Received January] 24.
And. Feby. [Answered February] 23
(Sent in an enclosure
to Mr. Todhunter
at Boston)

Royal Gardens
Kew Jany. [January] 5 1857.

My dear Dr. Torrey

A happy new year to
you, my very excellent
friend & to all who are
dear to you.

I am working hard at
a new part of my Gen. [Genera] &
Sp. [species] Filicum, & I am grievously
puzzled about
the Pteris gracilis of 
Michaux &c. Spite of
the unbounded liberality
of my N. Am. [North American] friends & spite
of my riches in Ferns I
am miserably poor in
that plant. I have
some ½ dozen bits finished
        