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Milwaukee Oct 30th 1857
Dear Sir
I was very glad to get your letter and to hear of your safe return from the long journey to Lake Winnepeak. I want to see you very much before you go East and talk with you about the Red river country. I have just been trying to construct a map of it from those of Nicollet & Pope with additions; and perhaps I shall write a small book on the “Red River of the North.” As you complain of ill health since your return perhaps a week spent here quietly would do you no injury. But if you cannot come perhaps I can meet you at Chicago on some day to be appointed.
The plants you sent are No 1 – Cornus stolonifera Mx. Red twigged dogwood 2 Arctostaphylos uva=ursi Spreng. Bear=Berry. 3 – This puzzels me, for want of flowers. } Is it not a kind of clover? I cannot make it out – Let me know all about it & if possible send some of the flowers 4 Pulsatilla Nuttalliana Gray. 5 Elæagnus argentea Pk. Silver berry.
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No’s 3 & 5 are new to me – I have never seen them before.
I have commenced the preparation of a Catalogue of Minnesota Plants, for which I have much material already. Perhaps it would be well to present it to the Chicago Society as you suggest.
When you send plants send also the habitat, date of collection & any information respecting it you can.
If you went or returned by land I would like to know your exact route, distances from place to place, names of streams &c for my map. Your ideas generally of the character of the country would also be of use to me.
I have a small green snake for you brought from Lapham by Mr McMullen. –
Please present my respects to your father and say that the Society matters are all arranged! I am to have 50 copies of the book instead of the extra sheets.
Mr Francis wants of me another article – which I propose
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shall be on the Forest Trees of Illinois If I could make one or two more trips across the state I think I could do the subject some justice.
Come & see me if you can
Yours I A Lapham
Robert Kennicott Esq.
P. S. I have a quantity of shells for you collected in the canal here when the water was drawn off – The river has been so high that I have had no success there I. A. L.
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[partial postmark] MILWA 18 Wis
[handwritten] Robert Kennicott Esq West Northfield Cook Co Illinois