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7216
[[circular stamp]] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION JAN 24 1886 [[/circular stamp]]

[[preprinted]]
Western Union Telegraph Company
MARINE SERVICE
[[/preprinted]] 

Dec. 22, 65, S.Franc.

Dear Proffessor,
 
I am busy as a bee. The news is as follows. Dr. Cooper has resigned from the army and is now in this city ^[[Report says to be married soon]]. Telegraph work is as usual. 

Stearns, Whitney, Bolander, and a few others including myself, are going to make a strong effort to rejuvenate the Cala. Academy. Ayres is a chronic wet blanket as he gets all the benefits of the concern as it is now by being corresponding secretary.
   
I have secured from Mrs. Bridges the [[strikethrough]] daughter [/strikethrough]]widow of the Dr. all his private collection, composed of plants from Chili Peru and Bolivia. It numbers some two or three thousand, and is in fair condition. It will need however to be poisoned immediately on arrival, as I have not enough