RK-115

Racine Oct 25 1855

Dear Bob,

I sympathise with you most heartily. That you have spent the summer with so much success in collecting valuable specimens of Nat. History, and then to have this labour rated and estimated by ignorant persons, totally incapable of appreciating the value of these services. Then to complete the insult have the bill - small and trifling - grudgingly allowed --- Never mind - glad you are going to attend the lectures you will thus find yourself for accompanying various expeditions in the capacity of Surgeon and Naturalist - won't that be fine, good pay too -

When I returned from Chicago I found our garden Smiling under a profusion of flowers. Dahlias never looked better - our first frost that killed the most tender was on the night - of the 21^st So you see we have had a gloriously long flower season -

Buffaloe Berry – male & female Delphinium Grandiflorus & Chinese Aconitum – Your Best variety – Papover orientalis - & Bracteotum Campanula – one or two best vrty – Spigetia Marylandica [illegible due to fold in paper] Upright Clematis – Missouri Penstemon Hyacinths a few } Narcissus - } Select as you please Crocus - } Colchicum }

[page turned, stamped on right side of page] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections

I am truly sorry your insects have suffered so severely. hope that Blue Butterfly has escaped. You must send that to Kirtland by all means.

I am greatly obliged for the Wood Ibis and the samples of wood you sent to Lapham - by the by you say nothing about sending a specimen of the Cypress - if you have not sent it cant you stick a piece in the box of plants?

I have indicated which plants I should like providing you have them to spare – I marked the Buffaloe Berry (Shepardia) the only shrub. This I should like much if you have it in abundance -

You can send them by Express –

We have now on the ground nearly 10 inches of snow fall yesterday –

With best regards for all Yours truly P.R. Hoy

D^r Robert Kennicott

P.S. [Illegible] on the oposite page -