
          you were [?] enough in a previous letter to offer me the use of some
valuable memoirs on the hepaticae. Though these would undoubtable give me
an insight into the structure + organs of these plants, of which I am now
perfectly destitute - I still feel I have hardly time to attempt the study.
I merely pick up striking forms, + when I get an opportunity - send them
to those to whom they may (I think) possibly be valuable - + there I leave
the matter. The mosses have always seemed to me the most difficult division
of the Cryptogamick plants. And as I feel I have some hold on the lichens
I [crossed out: feel] [added: think] that I ought to devote all my time to these. I mean that I have some
general ideas, + the knowledge of some forms of most of the Genera. This being
the case I collect these to study - but nor the mosses - which - on either of these - are 
enough (it seems to me) for any man. I therefor think that it iwll be best for
me to decline your kind offer - at least for some time to come.
I shall endeavour to send you [added: some] another collection of my more curious
plants, which I coudl not get ready before. Among these Viburnum 
nudum b. [beta] parvifolium, Bigel., Polygala cruciata (fl. albis), Chenopodium
glaucum, Gratiola aurea (fl. albis) Sabbatia chloroides (fl. albis)
Digitaria glabra + filiformis + Paspalum ciliatifolium, the three last all
from Cambridge.
I am rejoiced to hear of Part III of the Fl. Amer. This is indeed a
great work. There seems little enough Botanical [feeling?] in this region: and
Bigelow is still the manual of students - though he enumerates to very few
of the rarer plants of N.E. they seem to look on the new Flora as something
beyond them. It is in vain that I say this is only a stronger reason why they should
study its arrangements + thell them that as Botanists they should feel a delight
in a work of such science, whether they are yet able to to appreciate +
understand it or not. Perhaps indeed it is true that N.E. is behind the
age of Science. To be behind the age in learning is a compliment - and I
believe we deserve it in some degree. But we must make no pretence to the
honour that is due to modern science. And it may take a good while to
bring us to the standard of Europe + New York. We owe all to Bigelow, but 
our all is but little.
I will take leave to mention my address: which is "At Mr. R. Morse's, Cambridge".
I recieve bundles safely by the Cambe [Cambridge] omnibus. I still reside at the Univy [University] though
have taken my degree in the last - + mean to for the present - as it affords me
the use of some valuable foreign herbaria + some necessary books of reference. I could
        