RK-391

Chicago. 3^d Nov.

R. Kennicott. Esq.

Dear Sir.

A recent letter from Miss Doggett, who still remains in Mass. informs me the catalogue you were kind enough to order for me is in Middleboro whereat I greatly rejoice as I had made up my mind it would never gladden my eyes.

Your friend Dr. Kirtland was early in the fall exploring the Kankakee Swamps and the Sand-hills about New Buffalo. Came with but a few dollars in money and a large amount in drafts on Atwood & Co. Their failure left him in rather an unenviable predicament. He however found friends and pursued his investigations being rewarded he says by finding many new things in the way of plants, insects, birds and fishes and especially obtained a large, black snake with a brick or red-lead colored belly. He secured his specimen alive and

forwarded it to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

The Doctor is promising himself more leisure as he has given up his house, farm, garden &c to his daughter. He wonders "has Robt. Kennicott or any of the Chicago naturalists directed their attention to the localities he visited?"

If at any time, when in Chicago, you have leisure I shall be pleased to see you at J. B. Doggett's [illegible] of Pine and Huron Streets. With thanks to your obliging attention to my wish I am respectfully

Kate E. Newell.