
          Frontera July 20th 1851

My Dear Dr

I wrote to you a short time since but 
having an opportunity of sending back I improve it though 
I have nothing of much interest to communicate.

My plants were sent back to Dr Gray and a barrel of cactaceae 
to Dr Engelmann. I am preparing another collection of the latter.

Yesterday I made an excursion to the mountains near here 
[crossed out: but] collected [added: but] few specimens mostly cactaceae. I found something 
new among the latter.

Capt Skillman who has been for some time bearer of despatches
between San Antonio & the Post near El Paso is going on to 
Washington to solicit a postal arrangement between those
places. I want to remind you of wishes expressed in my former
letters for papers (originally published in Scientific Journals) on 
collections of plants made in this western country. You will
probably have an opportunity of sending by Capt Skillman 
anything of reasonable weight and size. Apply to Dr Gray also 
on this subject, and to Dr Engelmann for anything on the
Cactaceae particularly. I wrote a few days ago to Dr Gray via
Sant Fe & Independence [Msr? [Missouri?]]. If he should receive my letter
he will be fully informed of my wants.

I believe I am somewhat indebted to you for book sent
and I ought to have remitted you the money before I left
San Antonio, but you had better pay yourself ad libitum
out of my collections.

I enclose some Algae for Prof. Bailey if I have not sent them before
which I think probable. If I have you can keep the specimens yourself.
We have had a few light showers lately the heralds (I hope)
        