
          Washington, Sept. 3. 1848.

My dear Sir,

The settlement of my affairs in order to
my long absence has so totally engrossed me that I
have been forced to neglect my friends, and with them
other more agreeable business, nothing which
had in it the name of California could pass the House
this session, and with other things, our appropriation for
the survey was lost there. I set out from this place
on Wednesday or Thursday morning, remain one day in N.Y.
and go on to Missouri from which I shall set out
for California about the end of this month. Being in the
winter our journey will be a severe one, but I hope to
reach California early in December. I shall send you
plants such as the season may afford by the first or second
steamer (February or March) and you may [added: rely] on my exploring
the country about Mt Shasté (Shastl) early the next spring.
All our plans will be carried out. Col. Benton desires
me to say to you that at the next session (this winter) he
will procure the means [cross out: for Ex] sufficient to cover all the
expense attendant upon the examination of the plants, and
upon the Engraving and publishing our work in the style
you suggest. He will want a letter from you upon the
value of the plants and the value of the work, and
will communicate with you for that purpose. So that you
may be confident of our ultimate success, and in the mean time
I will make a good harvest in California. Prof. Henry
told me some weeks since that he would publish any thing you
could furnish him with from the plants. In all this please act
act as you judge best. I would be glad to have
        