RK-066

Racine May 7 - 1855 - Dear Bob, This letter must doo double duty - reply to yours of April 23 and May 22 - by the by I rather think your Amannensis - Dear Cora - rather beats you in Chirography - The Cicindelia were male and female C. Sexguttata - The rose I sent was Baron Prevost - the dahlias wer Sir. Edward Anterobus. (The first dahlia ever raised) and Mrs. Shela. - Can you read that - I confess I could not have deciphered her labels myself had I not known what the intentions were - Glad to have so good report from your dooings - I have been so much engaged otherwise that I have done but little save in Reptiles I have a private Froggery raising all sorts and stripes of tadpoles Salamanders and all - Shall have a complete history of the Salamander lurida have drawings made of the young Sallies every week - Also have pet - [illegible] - good accommodations, - Now doo not fair to send me at least two living - H. triseriata and H. Pickeringii and any other small frogs you can get - I want them for comparison as I am studying the frogs - Also I am dying to see your two species of deer mice dont fail - Send me your Bird Skins I will name them correctly too - I shal send those Cocci in about a week - I saw several plumb trees of large size almost entirely killed by the coccus - Shall give you any thing I find in this department - If- you wish to send Dr. Backman[underlined] anything it would be better to send to Rev. Dr. J (L) Backman Care of Dr. J.E. Holbrook - Robert permit me as a cincere friend to give you a little advise that

you may save yourself much mortification - that is be extremely cautious how you draw general conclusions from a few isolated facts; wait patiently - record faithfully - observe carefully - before you venture to draw general conclusions for them to be sound must rest on a solid foundation Again - be wary about hearsay evidence there is nothing in which the common people are so liable to be deceived, and honestly so, as in relation to subjects of Nat History - these remarks were not called forth by any known instance in which you have erred in this particular - by no means - but knowing the impatience and enthusiasm of youth - by experience - and knowing too this is a common failing of youth ^inexperience I wish to put you on your guard, It is time enough to make general applications after all the evidence that can be collected has been bro't home The Rail-road will be in a few days completed between this and Chicago - then I hope to see you and your Sister occasionally in Racine I too will anticipate visiting 'The Grove' Write often and be assured I remain yours Truly P, R, Hoy P.S. How goes the general agency matter on the R. Roads? hope that will be carried out to the letter –