
          Recd. [Received] Feby. [February] 8th 1851
And. [Answered] 10th

My dear Sir

I promised to write you how
we progressed in botanical affairs, but
I have as yet nothing that will interest
you. I came through from San Antonio
with an advance party on a forced
march & consequently was unable to devote
much time to the few plants that the
long drought allowed to exist, The 
[reyis?] of our route, the northern road is a 
most barren one & except in the mountain
passes there was but little variety in
the vegetation. I have collected all
that the rapidity of the march would 
allow & shall be glad to find that there
are any good things among them.

We have not seen any thing of Doct. [Doctor]
Parry. I am sorry to find that there
is some misunderstanding in regard to him.
I never heard of him until my visit to you
at Princeton. You must therefore acquit
me of all intention of displacing him.
The position which I hold in the expedition
is one which I have used neither influence
nor management to obtain, a place which
I supposed at the time was without other
        