Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Dewey, Chester (1857-03-21)

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I have much work before me to label & pack
to America these collections from my trip & others
-all of which together fill two large rooms so
full that they have actually overflowed
into all the bureau drawers & closet shelves
of the third room in which I live! The time
which I have devoted to this class of
labour for the past year has undoubtedly
been a great drawback to my studies
but I can not but think it on the whole
desirable when I consider the other
advantages which I have been able to
procure merely by the aid </s of >(pecuniarily) of
such collection. With the present state of
my purse I can hope for little more than to get
safely back to America in the early part of
the summer. I shall feel very sorry to not have
visited Switzerland with its glaciers & its 
striking physical scenery, & especially to not
be able to spend a month or 6 weeks at London
in the British Museum of the Royal Geological
Society, and at least six weeks more in travelling
upon the most interesting geological paths in
England, Scotland & Wales. I see clearly & certainly
how I could accomplish this , had
I only the ready money to invest in the undertaking.
I expect to write to Uncle Levi upon this subject
next week & I would prefer making him & yourself
Sir, my sole confidants in the matter. Should I be
aided to do this I should not reach home before
the month of September. In case I go to
England I shall be only too happy to procure for
yourself & Prof. Weed (please, Sir, present him my respects)
a box of fossils from the "Old Red", which you request.
I should like to know exactly the class of fossils which
you would prefer (those most characteristic?) as also the
sum to invest. This latter you would be as good as
to hand to instead of sending it to me. I shall
be most happy, Sir, if you will please accept for your
collection the [o. gigantenus] & the [H. pomatial (singater)]which I
sent in the box.

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I have much work before me to label & pack to America these collections from my trip & others -all of which together fill two large rooms so full that they have actually overflowed into all the bureau drawers & closet shelves of the third room in which I live! The time which I have devoted to this class of labour for the past year has undoubtedly been a great drawback to my studies but I can not but think it on the whole desirable when I consider the other advantages which I have been able to procure merely by the aid </s of >(pecuniarily) of such collection. With the present state of my purse I can hope for little more than to get safely back to America in the early part of the summer. I shall feel very sorry to not have visited Switzerland with its glaciers & its striking physical scenery, & especially to not be able to spend a month or 6 weeks at London in the British Museum of the Royal Geological Society, and at least six weeks more in travelling upon the most interesting geological paths in England, Scotland & Wales. I see clearly & certainly how I could accomplish this , had I only the ready money to invest in the undertaking. I expect to write to Uncle Levi upon this subject next week & I would prefer making him & yourself Sir, my sole confidants in the matter. Should I be aided to do this I should not reach home before the month of September. In case I go to England I shall be only too happy to procure for yourself & Prof. Weed (please, Sir, present him my respects) a box of fossils from the "Old Red", which you request. I should like to know exactly the class of fossils which you would prefer (those most characteristic?) as also the sum to invest. This latter you would be as good as to hand to instead of sending it to me. I shall be most happy, Sir, if you will please accept for your collection the [o. gigantenus] & the [H. pomatial (singater)]which I sent in the box.