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Aug. 5, Botanical business very dull. four Polygonums, neither rich nor rare, is all I have to report. You ask how Alfred answers - perfectly, nobody could be better just on par with yourself in that regard. your Pyrus (alias sorbus) americana has since this rainy weather has become revivified, Rosa nitida thrives & so does Lycopersicum esculentum & the other Children of your planting

 That letter to Dole was sent today
 Aug. 8th Yours of 4th instant recieved yesterday  - There seems to be now a lull in florescence, or else my Collections are deficient. I had however an excellent native Thistle yesterday, tall, (4 -5 ft) with showy fragrant flowers, Cirsium muticum, in bushes head of the intervale
 Lobelia Cardinalis - I do not name all the additions to the list by any means, only those that are more or less worthy of note. present No. of the list 341,  It was 277 when you went away. The letter that was sent to Hennikers was of no consequence only to tell you that Alfred was coming and a little about plants.
 You speak of Alfred as Slow I guess his Slowness is much more in appearance than in reality. Your comparison as to cuirassiers and Light Horse is a tolerably good one considering that from your mode of life your have not been much conversant with Military affairs- Altho cuirassiers are heavily arm'd yet that is not their characteristic, their peculiarity is their complete defensive armour which is scarcely us'd by any other troops in modern warfare - the ordinary full arm'd Horseman mounted on beasts of large size are term'd dragoons. The lighthorse, for velocity in reconoitering the country rather than for efficient service in the battlefield usually call'd husians in Germany etc. and rangers in this Country. Alfred evidently belongs to the Corps of (to sheet No. 2)