Box 10, Folder 3: Correspondence 1866

[Left page] Dr Robbins

[Right page] Uxbridge, Mass., 19th July, 1866.

Mr. Lapham, It is now nearly three years since I had the pleasure of seeing you and receiving your hospitality on my journey southward. I left with you a few L. Superior plants some of which I had not had the means of determining Among others I [illegible] the two [illegible] V. [illegible], Hook. and V. [illegible], [illegible]. which I thot. might be new as not being mentioned in any book to which I had had access. I have for sometime been endeavoring to study [illegible], with much assistance from Dr. Gray and his collections, my L. S. plants with the view of getting up, in [connection?] with another gentleman, a more complete catalogue of the plants of the L. S. region. At the very beginning of my task I found that the white flowering [illegible]- [illegible] of L. S. seemed a different species

[Left page] from the only one we have in N. Engd. and I made it out the R. [illegible] of Schrank. Dr. G. seems displeased to admit its claims to the rank of a species, for I could readily point out the two kinds in his herbarium. There is some doubt however in regard to the fruit, for there is but very little to be found in our herbaria of either. Now there are in the herbm of Mr. [Boott?] of Boston three fine specimens of the plant of which I gathered but one important specimen at L. Sup., marked as recd? from you, but also destitute of fruit. One object then of my writing now is to see if you will not, if the plant is near at hand, take sufficient interest in the matter to lay in a supply of specimens both in fl. & in Fr. and especially the latter as nearby ripe as may be. I should much like a few specimens. I suppose the plant is likely to be new just in flower & perhaps same fr. may be nearly mature. I would

[Right page] be much obliged for a single small specimen in flower by mail, together with a branch with fr. well grown and another with it about ripe. In this last state I suspect it loses its style & becomes wounded at the extremity. You may have the other species, which according to Dr. G's herbm also comes from the west. You may distinguish it my its leaves being usually [illegible] and the subdivisions more flaccid as well as longer & the ripe fruit, I believe, remaining apiculate.

I shall, of course, send you a copy of our "Catalogue" when done. If you shall have made any observations upon any of the L. S. plants which I left with you e.g. upon the Trillium or any other I should be glad to receive & make use of them.

I am, Sir, Respectfully & truly Yours etc. J. W. Robbins

333a Milwaukee Aug. 10th 1866 Dr. Sir The next time I visit your great city I intend to ask you to introduce me to your brother for the following project-- chiefly, of course, for the purpose of advancing useful knowledge, but partly also for my own benefit! Fifty thousand dollars would be sufficient to establish & permanently endow a Botanical Department of the Chicago Academy of Sciences; a small sum, when we consider the important benefits that would be the result, not only for the present, but for all future time. The income of the fund would pay the salary (say $2000/ of a Director of the Botanical Department, and leave a considerable sum ($1000 or more) to be annually expended in the purchase of books; securing specimens; making & encouraging original investigations; publishing the results etc. Such a Department with its library and collections would be exceeding

[Left page] valuable not only to farmers, gardeners, and but to all trades and professions in which the vegetable kingdom is in any way concerned. It would be a source of accurate knowledge available for study by the professors & students of the several colleges & universities in and about Chicago; and this each would have advantages far greater than any one would be likely to acquire from its own resources.

It would have many other advantages too obvious to require mention here.

Should you and your brother decide to endow such a Department & place it under my direction, I will at once contribute my large herbarium, and all botanical books in my library. The accompanying letter from a distinguished man of science (Mr. Lesquereux) will give you some idea of the value of my collections etc.

Your favorable attention to this matter is respectfully requested. Hon. M D Ogden [illegible]

(I. A. Lapham's writing)

[Right page blank.]

31a

Milwaukee Aug 12th, 1866

Dr Sir This morning at 10 o'clock the "Briham" a sail vessel passed so near the dock on which the tide gauge is situated and with a beam spar projecting in such manner as to over turn it, - smashing things generally!- I have secured it as well as I could by nailing up the openings in the floor, and will tomorrow have the house set up, again, & (if possible) have the machine set put in motion again.

It would be well however to take this occasion to have the instrument removed to a secure & much better place in the new light house building.

It is truly quite wonderful that the same thing has not happened before.

Yours truly I. A. Lapham

Col F W. F. Raynolds