
          Manchester N.J. Oct. 16th 1843


 My Dear Friend


 Yours of the 16th has been duly
 received, and I hasten to forward this by the
 bearer. - I have been improving every opportunity
 in collecting late flowing plants
 and seeds with all diligence. _ Only last
 Tuesday I was at Toms River and taking
 time by the fare book I made an excursion
 to the shore of Toms River bay where
 we landed when on the way to the
 [Ocean?] when you were last here - I
 found -  [Leckia?] thymifolia in leaves & fruit
 Cassia in fruit (ripe) and a Solidago on the
 border of the salt marshes of which I knew
 nothing before - The latter I will send you
 if the Rev. Gentleman can be prevailed on
 to carry it & which I would like to have
 labelled, I found a No in good state but
 mostly too old -


 I have also been closely occupied in preparing
 an additional room for working my
 plants - But this too with all my Botanical
 labours is suspended for the present
 by an unforeseen visitation of Providence. -


 My son has been laid up for nearly two
 weeks with a fever - His case appeared at
 first a mild form of Billious Fever, but 
 for 5 or 6 days the symptoms are decidedly
 Typhoid, my wife has poor health too, and
 with it several cases of fever on hand in
 the village - My little girl too, has on Saturday
 has been so unfortunate as to have one of
 her fingers cut off (only hanging by a little skin
 [crossed out: by] one of the doors of your boxes of drawers
 I have adjusted and secured it with adhesive [stichs?]
        