RK-492

East Greenwich P.O. March 12. 1858.

R. Kennicott, Esq.

Dear Sir: - Just a month ago today the last page of my Third Report was placed in the printer's hands. And then, to get enough of my Fourth Report written off, in time to lay before the legislature, to secure an order for its printing, I was obliged to keep on writing as diligently as before. I last evening returned from Albany, having handed in the latter. And now, at last, I have a little respite – but with so many things before me claiming attention, that I scarcely know what to take in hand first. I must, however , within a few days, sit down to look over the Lepidoptera that have been sent in to me, and ticket and return one of the collections to its owner, before warm weather and the period for out door work arrives.

I ought to have replied to your last note more punctually. I write now, to say, if you have not yet done anything with your Lepidoptera, and choose to send them on to me, I will name the chief part of them – all that I can recognize

readily – and return them to you, before next summers’ work is taken in hand. If a portion of your specimens require study to determine them, as they probably will, especially if there are many of the small moths among them, I cannot promise to make these out for you now, but will study them out as soon as possible – certainly within thirteen months of this date, unless your collection is much larger and more difficult than I anticipate. You may send them to me by Express, directed to Salem, Washington Co., New York. Those which you gathered in the Pembina district will of course be marked so that I can distinguish them from those taken in N.E. Illinois; for I hope to add considerably to my knowledge of the geographical range of the species, hereby. And duplicates of any species which I may desire for my own collection, you will I am sure be willing to have me retain.

I see so many things before me requiring to be done, that I pretty much despair of seeing you in Washington, as I heretofore spoke of.

The printers promised to send my Third Report to me

next week; but I have never known them to be punctual in their promises! You shall have a copy as soon as I do receive them. You will find this a much more important and valuable than the preceding Reports – for which Prof. Lindley, the distinguished botanist, I see, has been complimenting me very highly. I little expected to see myself held up as a model for such men as Curtis and Westwood to imitate.

In haste, Yours truly, Asa Fitch.