RK-706

64

Galena January 18th 1859

Dr R. Kennicott.

My dear Sir

Your favour of the 3rd inst was duly received and I have written as you desired to several of the members both of the Senate & House, urging the matter as strongly as I could, I wrote both individually and also as Corres: Sec'y of the Jo Davies Cy Agricult Society. I have also addressed S. Francis Esq on the subject and got a number of friends of the project to use their influence, if I can do any thing further I shall be happy -

I am much pleased to have the pleasure of corresponding with you, and to find also that I am not forgotten by my old friend Dr Brinckle from whom I have not heard for a long time.

I should always esteem it an honor to be connected even in a remote degree with any of the lovers of natural science My earliest and happiest days were spent in the study of my good and lamented Old Uncle with whom I lived until I was apprenticed to a Surgeon, many a merry chase have I given to butterflies in those

days and many a poor moth have I beguiled into a trap by smeering a tree with molasses and holding a Lanthorn near it, but unfortunately for me since I have been in America I have had not associates who cared for these things and although I have done much by the way of collecting for others I have never kept any thing for myself My passion is in the Horticultural way and I have latterly been trying to establish a nursery. I started last Autumn to visit some nurseries in our state and did intend to visit yours, with a view to the purchase of some young stock of evergreens, and may yet get so far before spring

I am very much obliged for your kind offer and shall be pleased to make collec =tions for you of any thing you may wish.

Hoping that this may prove but the opening of a correspondence, and may also produce a personal acquaintance I beg leave to subscribe myself

Yours Truly E H Kittoe

This was directed to "Dr R. Kennicott", and intended for you - but I have answered it, too - as part was meant for the "nurseryman"