
          New York. December 3rd, 1836

My dear Sir,

By this time you have probably received Mr. Downing's
botanical paper. The first proof of Dr. Gray's piece was
recd.[received] yesterday & returned by mail this afternoon. Dr.
Gr'[Gray's] address is "Asa Gray, M.D Lyceum of Natl.[Natural] History, N.Y"
He is Superintendent & Librarian of the Lyceum & has
quarters in the Society's building.

Lt. Bailey of West
Point is working at the plates & will endeavour to have
them ready in time.

The plates for Mr. Downing's 
paper we will endeavour to have done next week by 
a young artist whom we are exercising for the S. Sea Expedition.

By the way. I read a letter which Dr. Gray
received from Mr. Dana last evening & I begin to feel
some uneasiness about the appointment of the latter, to the
situation of Geologist & mineralogist in the Expedition! Did
Dr. Eights [crossed out: receive] ask you to recommend him for this situation? 
If he did, he has deceived me. He promised not to
ask for that place provided some of the members of the 
Lyceum would ask some other appointment for him. I told
him that the principal naturalists of the country had united in
an application in favor of Dana, & he disclaimed any intention
        