Box 3, Folder 3: Typewritten Letters 1840-1844

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you with much pleasure as soon as I can select them.

If it would not be asking too much I would be glad to receive from you a few more specimens of Genus [illegible pencil written word] triflorum and of Equisetum varigatum.

I shall send my parcel for you to the care of Prof. Dewey but I hope he will not keep it as long as he kept the one you sent to me.

I am, dear sir, yours truly,

J. Torrey.

Mr. Lapham.

Milwaukee April 13th, 1841.

Dear Father,--

I have not heard form you for some time except through Darius from which I received a letter a day or two since.

Three weeks ago I had my trunk packed and all other preparations made for a journey to Columbus and at the last hour it was concluded to send some one else and I was compelled very reluctantly to stay at home! I should have made you but a short visit however, as it would have been necessary for me to return, with as little delay as possible. I did not regret it so much however, as I should if I did not expect to see you out here this summer.

The business at Columbus was to carry the new Territorial bonds to the Canal Loan to Mr. Kilbourn who is the agent to make the loan, and as the commissioners have to select the bank in which the money is to be deposited, it was thought necessary that one of the commissioners should be there and so Mr. J. Hustis went in my place. I am very sorry to hear of Pazzi's continued ill health but hope ere this he has recovered. I hope also some of you will take the trouble to write to me often, especially while any of you

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are sick. ***

Our spring here is very backward, weather cold and wet, it has been so for some time, keeping everything like vegetation down. This is very discouraging to a botanist who is always anxious to observe the first opening of the spring flowers and who would in general prefer to have spring and summer last all the year. I spend much of my leisure time yet in botanical pursuits and have now a very handsome collection of dried plants, numbering something over 2,000 species. To this I am adding every now and then by exchanging with botanists throughout the country. We have a great many interesting plants here. ***

Your affectionate son,

Increase.

S. Lapham.

Milwaukee May 6th, 1841

Dear Brother--

We are all well. Mr. Hubbard continues quite low and his little son John is now also very sick.

[marginalia: I.A. L's brother-in-law H.M. Hubbard]

General time of good health here notwithstanding, but as our Great Lakes are now falling and leaving a large amount of low flat land which has been submerged for some years, exposed to the sun, I am not without apprehension that the doctors may have something to do the coming summer.

I have just received a letter from William accompanied by one from Lorana, who represents Pazzi as declining and expresses the fear that he may not recover. I hope their fears are without foundation!***

The bonds are not yet sold, the old ones have arrived here and I leave tomorrow morning for Mineral Point to deliver them to

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the Governor. Hope I shall find two or three letters from you on my return. ***

Ask Dr. Lock the next time you meet him how high he found the Blue Mounds? I heard of his being on its summit with a barometer.

I tried to get some "white mineral" (earthy oxide of lead) at the Mound, but Mr. Brigham said that Dr. Owen had robbed him of all he had. He kept about a peck on hand to supply visitors and offered Dr. O. as many as he wanted, whereupon the Dr. emptied the whole peck into his bag! However I succeeded in finding two small specimens, sufficient for my Cabinet.

Spring is still very backward here, too my vasculum along to gather new flowers, of which I found but few. The side saddle flower, of which I found the leaves, is very interesting. The leaves are tubular and standing erect hold water with which they are generally filled, it is the sarracenia purpurea of botanists.

Found some very beautiful and perfect shells in Rock river but nothing new.

A steamboat is being built at Aztalan to run on Rock river from that place to St. Louis, will start Monday next.

Gov. Dodge, a faithful, honest, capable public officer has been removed. *** Gen'l [Harrison?] refused to do this deed, but Tyler did t! So we go.

All's well, your brother.

Ink. [Increase]

D. Lapham.

New York May 7th, 1841.

Dear Sir,--

Your letter of April 9th was received about a fortnight ago and today your second parcel was left as my house. ***

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dispatched and that for Dr. Chapman shall go by an early opportunity. *** I hope to receive from you more of the Genus [illegible word] triflorum and also of the pretty gentian. ****

I approve your intention with regard to a catalogue of Wisconsin plants. You will be prudent in omitting the whole of Schweinitz plants noticed in Long's 2nd expedition on account of the numerous errors in the names.

Mr. Nicollet has sent me the plants collected on his North Western Expedition and I am to furnish a list for his report, to be published in a few months. Perhaps this catalogue may aid you somewhat in preparing yours.

The Gentian seems unlike any other in my herbarium and I have nearly all that are described in Hooker's Fl. Brit. Amer. I should like to see more specimens particularly in the branched state before making up my mind that it is new. ***

Yours truly,

John Torrey.

I.A. Lapham.

Mil. W.T.

Middletown Conn. May 17th, 1841

My dear Sir,--

Your letter of April 14th was duly received and it gave me great pleasure to hear from you and to find so prompt and valuable correspondent.

Your package of plants has also arrived in the great safety and as it contains some great rarities I was most highly gratified with what you sent me. I was much struck with the beauty and neatness which your specimens are preserved. I find

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you have profited by your acquaintance with Dr. Short, whose specimens can not be excelled.

I shall take great pleasure in keeping up this correspondence. I will write to you again soon, in the mean time permit me to say how much I value your acquaintance.

Yours with great regard,

J. Barrett.

I.A. Lapham.

Milwaukee, May 18, 1841.

Dear Brother William--

Although it is only two or three days since I wrote to Hannah, the receipt of your letter last evening accompanied by one from mother to Ann, has determined me to write again today in answer to that and also to one I received some time since just as I was starting for Mineral Point to see the Governor. *** I am very glad to hear that Pazzi is growing better and hope he will soon be entirely well. Am very sorry it happens that father and mother as well as all of you cannot make me a visit this summer. But as you cannot I have concluded to make an attempt to visit you!

Whether I shall be successful time only can decide. If I do come it will probably be by way of St. Louis and Cincinnati and I'll bring Darius with me if he can leave at the same time. It is altogether doubtful; it will depend some upon whether we go on with the canal; I shall soon know whether there is any probability of that. If Mr. Kilbourne has obtained money on our bonds I must remain here to superintend the work of the canal; if not, I can probably go to Ohio if I can get money enough to pay the expenses of such a journey.