
          not the man he once was; and when I remember that
my preceptor in Botany, the older Barton, was several years
younger than I now am when he died, and yet that, he died
an old man, I am forcibly remined that I am no longer young.
Yet, my dear Sir, with all this feeling of growing years, I
can assure you I feel no abatement in “my first love” to
Botany; and have only to regret that in my younger and
more vigorous days I did not do more to manifest my attachment.

I am much pleased to learn from 
you that the Labiate plant from Florida promises to be something
new, and I regret to learn that the specimen I sent
you was not sufficiently perfect for satisfactory analysis. My friend,
Dr. Drake, reports it to be very common on the white sandy
shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and especially abundant on the beaches
of Santa Rosa near Pensacola. He brought me but two specimens,
and I herewith send you the only remaining one I have. Is it
not strange that Dr. Chapman has not met with it? From the
accuracy of Dr. Drake I cannot think that he has been mistaken
in this particular. The original ticket accompanying the specimens
and written at the time of collection is “Labiatea ? Santa
Rosa Bay. D. Drake. April 1843.” I hope you may be able to
do something with this specimen although the flowers seem imperfect.

        