
          Cambridge 12 Dec 1847

Dear sir
It is so long since I have sat down to 
ask questions of your, that I am afraid you have given me up
as recreant to Botany. But I am once mroe working hard
on lichens, and hope to get out the first number of the Lichenes
Amer. Sept. Exsiccati" in the course of six weeks. I shall 
publish 50 - but prepare only 25 copies the present fall.
The books will be ready for another seasons collections. I have been
happy enough to intersect some botanists of the South in my
undertaking, and mean, if I can, to visit the South
myself, in the spring. I hope also to be able, the next
season, to explore the different herbaria, and settle the new
lichenes of Muhlenberg, Schweinitz, + Halsey. My foreign
collection is very large, and authentick, and gives me great
advantage. I shall have great pleasure, soon in laying before
you the first Fasciculus of my work - + hope it will please 
you.
Dr. Gray's Manual is advancing rapidly. He has just called,
and taken the [crossed out: proof] copy of my conclusing portion of the work
on Lichenes. Mr Sullivant's mosses is all in the press. 
        