
          Eben Erzer [Ebenezer] by Buffalo April 7/45 [1845]


 Dear Sir & friend


 Your worthy writing of the 31st March
 I recd [received]. I am sorry that I cannot speak English nor yet 
 write it and therfr [therefore] answer you in the German 
 There are a few friends, among us, who can speak
 English, from necessity & even read it, but they cannot
 write a letter; nor even translate German into English.
 So your proposed questions, I reply, as follows.
 The drawings for the Nova genera et species plantarum
 Brasiliensium [Plantarum Brasiliensium nova genera et species novae] and for the great Palm work, I 
 have made. They [added: were] outline only not filled up, such
 a drawing with the necessary analyses of the flower
 & plant can be had for $ 2.00.
 Should the plants be drawn on 8.vo [octavo] they might be much
 cheape, perhaps 1/2 the sum above mentioned
 The engraving upon stone costs from $3 to $5 according
 as the plant is heavy or troublesome. It is generally
 hard to determine the price before-hand for such
 natural-historical works. it depends altogether
 upon the more or less trouble which the subject
 requires. I have worked, in this department,
 very much & for different people & they were
 always satisfied with my [crossed out: pieces] [added: changes] which  I made
        