
          It is a matter of grave astonishment to me that
any one wants to live outside the bounds of Rhode
Island and Providence plantations, there are
so many of God's blessings within it.

I intended to have had out my
first Fasc. [Fascicle] of Carices Borealis Am. [added: ?], but am
waiting for some few plates to illustrate
it. I shall send out also such plants
as I [treat?] of in it in [?] illustrations
so far as I can procure them. Can
you inform me why certain distinguished
botanists paid so great heed to the
outlines of the perigynium in Carex
rather than to write this with its various
markings and why another class of 
minds think that the colous of spikes more
important for arranging groups than the
acheneum and why two stigmas as
distinguished fromthru are not good
natural characters for any natural
[dimer?] for this great and beautiful genus.

Miss Smith, Frank & Stevy send their
kindest regards to you and Miss Maggie and
I to the whole family. Ever and sincerely yours Stephen T. Olney
My birthday 59 years & feeling as fresh as a boy congratulate me
        