
          Usebridge, Oct. 29th 1830

Dear Sir,

This will be handed you by Mr.
Whitin, a young gentleman of this vicinity,
and a student in our office, who purposes to attend
the lectures at your Institution, & whom I would
recommend to your attention.

Some months have now elapsed since I had the
pleasure of receiving a letter from you which still
remains unanswered. Having entered, this 
year, in good earnest upon the practice of my profession,
being in connection with a physician whose business is
quite extensive, I have found myself sufficiently occupied
in endeavoring to perform the duties which have
devolved upon me with satisfaction to myself. In the
mean while I have kept myself quite aloof from Botany,
except that I have not compelled myself (enpassent)
to close my eyes upon its beautiful objects. Even
correspondence with my botanical friends, until very
lately, has, on my part, been wholly intermitted.
I have in this excercised not a little forbearance,
and fear I have too long tried that of my correspondents: 
if not, I shall now endeavor to place myself
upon my former footing with them. I hope to
be able here after to spend a portion of my time upon
botanical subjects, which I think I can take up with increased
interest.
        