
          Washington City Feby. [Feb.] 24th 1848

My Dear Sir,

I had just sent you a little inquiry
about some seeds I wished to take to California, 
when I recieve your kind letter of
yesterday. When I resigned my commission
of St. Col. of Cavalry, I gave up 
also my commission in the Topl. Engineers,
which had in fact been vacated by my 
acceptance of the former. I have therefore
entirely withdrawn from the public service,
but I am deeply gratified with being able
to say to you that our work will still
go on, and that I even hope to be able
to give to it a greater extent and beauty
than we had before anticipated. This,
although [insert: only] a hope at present, will, I have
great reason to believe be verified, and in
the mean time I am permitted to assure
you, that there will be no interruption
        