
          Middletown, Ct. Nov. 3 1840
Dear Sir,

Accept my acknowledgements for
a good word from you through Dr. Barratt or one
or two occasions, during the past season.

We have the materials ready, and are about 
commencing the construction of a galvanic battery,
which we design to contain about 140 pairs of plates.
It has occurred to me that an instrument may
be constructed so as to be made either a deflagrator
or calorimeter, at pleasure; but it would require too
much space to attempt [added: here] a description of the means
by which this is to be accomplished. Has a battery
of this kind ever been constructed?

During our last vacation I made a hasty journey
to my native state, Maine, where I found
this Halenia deflexa (Qwertia Deflexa of some authors)
and the Orchis obtusata in great abundance. the 
latter is I think the [Clatansthuria?] obtusata] of Hooker.
Not having attempted the collection of a herbarium
myself, I gave my specimen to Dr. Barratt, who
indeed determined the species. the Dr. says both these
species are somewhat rare in the N. States; and
as I intend to visit the place again another

        