Box 7, Folder 8: Correspondence 1848

252 [Meriden?], Feb. 2, 1848

Dear Sir,

Yours of the 5th ult. is before me. Long time had indeed elapsed since the date of my last to you—but if I recollect, there was nothing in it in the way of business which required an immediate reply.

I am happy to learn that you have, at length, received a copy of the "Class Book of Botany." I requested by letter, Messrs. Crocker of Brewster, my publishers, to send you a copy, long ago, but had never learned until now that it had been done. Although I have endeavored, in my preface, to express to you my thanks (with others) for assistance received, yet I would now renew those expressions. Were I now to strike out of my flora all that I desired either directly or indirectly, from your communications; an awful chasm, [illegible], must remain.

You say, also, that you [inserted] a notice of my work in your daily paper. Allow me to request you to send me a copy of that article, in order that I may cause it to be added to the chapter of recommendations which has already been published—and is very large. The last that I received, was from Hon. Jus. W. Davis, last session Speaker of the House!

Accept my thanks also, dear Sir, for the sketch, you give of the present stock of things, in your city and State. The increase of Wisconsin, seems to exceed that of all

Side notes:

A. Wood Feb. 2 1848 Ans? Mar. 2 1848

states, so far as I can recollect—$5,000 in 18 months! Wonderful! And Milwaukee increased in a dozen yrs to a population of 14,000! I have always regarded Wisconsin with peculiar interest, and have never yet abandoned the hope of one day visiting her Lake shores, and, and inhaling her salubrious air, at least for a season. And since the reception of your last favor, this here has, in my mind, assumed a somewhat more definite form, and prompted me even to say to you my dear sir, as follows—

You have stated that "efforts are making to establish a High School on a permanent basis "(at Milwaukee I presume). A noble enterprise. If the increase of knowledge does not keep pace with the increase of numbers in our republic, alas for its ["destinies?"]! Our enemies will hardly need to add to our specific gravity by suspending about our necks such millstones as Mexico and Yucatan—we shall sink fast enough 'as we are,' if schools be neglected. But, to come at once to the point:—you may, if you please, present my name to the trustees of that institution as a candidate for some post of labor—or trust in connection with it. I have no doubt that the school they are about to establish is to correspond in all important prints, with this institution in which I have labored for the last 12 years, and shall still continued to labor unless called to another, of, at least, equal opportunities for usefulness and influence. My departments of instruction have been various—Language, Mathematics or Sciences—but of late, rather more confined to the letter. Please see the catalogue of our Academy (equal in rank to any Western College, which I visited in my late tour), which I send you along with this letter. The "book" may be referred to for specimens of various sorts of communications; e.g. the drawings were wholly designed and executed by myself,—such as it is. And should testimonials be required I suppose that I can furnish them to any amount.—But enough, kind sir; you already understand me. I am not a fortune seeker—out of place, but hope ever to be one whose usefulness may [illegible] only with life.

The [illegible] Department in this [Trust?] is one of high standing—with which my wife was long connected as principal instruction—but had now change of the [music?] only—This I state only as a hint to what weight he expected of us in regard to such a department, in favorable circumstances.

May I not hope to hear from you again soon? Your communications are held in the highest estimation by

Your most obliged and humble serv't Alphonse Wood.

Ann E. Lapham Butte Creek, Mich.

Mary Ann Lapham [Macedon?] Locks Wayne Co N.H.

P.S. I would here add a few lines respecting the work of which you acknowledge the reception of a copy. If you examine the work critically, you will discover any errors. The Synopsis, page 131-6 will not, and it is in your copy, conduct the student to every plant in the Flora. For example, the opposite-leaved Scrophulariaceae are wholly excluded by an oversight in one line, page 134, upper line marked 104, which should read as follows;

[XCI. 104. Ovary 2-celled (few-seeded, Acauthaceae. XC.) many-seeded Scrophulariaceae.—so in several other places.

Again, in the preface, (which was written and printed before the Flora was completed) I have alluded to the addition of a chapter on the lower orders of the Cryptogamica,—which is not yet added! I found myself, after all, quite unable to satisfy myself with any plan I would devise or execute, at present.

Also one species, Ranunculus rhomboideus, of which you sent me a specimen, is omitted, as well as some two in the latest edition, now just issued.—At the repeated calls of my publishers, I have now undertaken another work,—a small affair (every how!) entitled, "First Lesson in Botany, for Common Schools in the United States." It will probably appear sometime during the coming spring or summer.

In conclusion, I would say that I should be very happy dear Sir, to furnish you with any plant or mineral which my cabinet or herbarium may afford, valuable in any degree to you. I have been engaging rather largely of lots in exchanges with Southern and Western Correspondents.

A.W.

Prof. Lapham Feb. 20, 1848

252a

Milwaukee Feb 20th 1848

Dear Brother

It is now some time since we have heard from you directly, and when we did hear your communication being an effort at poetry was not as full and comprehensive as we could wish. We have admired the beautiful thoughts so well expressed in these lines, and can enter fully into their spirit. Ann has read them to several of our female acquaintances, who have evinced lively emotions of feeling, "even unto tears" upon hearing them. What better evidence could you have, that this is genuine poetry. Like many of the poems of Burns it came from the very depths of the heart, and cold indeed must be the heart which, knowing the circumstances under which it was written, could hear them without being moved! We have decided to ask of you the privilege of having the lines published, with a brief statement of the circumstances using only initials, that would be understood by our relatives and friends. What say you?

We have had a remarkably mild winter here. No sleighing—the north winds even are not every cold—the ice has left our river, being a month earlier than normal. I attended a lecture a few evenings since on Astronomy in which when speaking of spots on the river it was said that at one or two instances when they were unusually large and numerous the winters were remarkably cold. Is not the converse also true? Suppose you ask Mr. Mitchell whether the solar spots are now any smaller or less numerous (one or both) than usual. The mildness of this winter appears to be so universal, (extending to Europe &c) that we must look to some wide extended cause of it. It cannot be a local cause.

We are all in good health at present, for which, we hope, we are duly thankful. The girls begin to take great interest in reading and acquiring knowledge; the boy runs about doing all the mischief he can as well as many other very interesting and [illegible] things,—at least in the eyes of his parents. He promises to be a good boy, physically & intellectually & we hope morally.

I have delivered two public lectures & am preparing a third; as you may have seen by the Sentinel & Gazette which is regularly sent home I suppose—I have so directed it. One of those—on the Geology of Wisconsin was much [talked?] of and noticed in the newspaper.

I have lately been appointed an agent to obtain a loan of $15,000 for the City to build school houses with, and may have to make another trip to Boston when the navigation opens on that account. I am now trying "what virtue there may be" in letter writing. Shall begin to have answers soon.

I have a prospect of being employed by the Legislature to draw some large maps of the new State of Wisconsin. If no I shall probably visit all the County seats for the purpose of collecting authentic data.

I don't know of any other honors to be conferred on me about which to write so I must stop here. Plank roads are all the go here now—We shall probably have some before one year goes by. Rail roads are [lost?] night of at present. Love to all from

Your affectionate Brother & Sister I.A. Lapham & Anne

D. Lapham