Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Macoun, John (1879-12-31)

ybg Rochester, N. Y. Dec. 31, 1879 Prof. John Macoun. Belleville Dear Sir,

  I am in receipt of your letter

of the 27th. I do not doubt for a mo- ment that there were abundant reasons which prevented you from sending me the plants last winter; or even up to the present date. President Jaynes had told me by letter of how </u greatly > occupied you were clear up to the month of June; and I have known of your absence since then on the ex- ploring tour. </u But >, it does not seem to me that this quite touches the important part of this question, which is as follows, In the summer of 78 I sold a cabinet to Albert college for $300. For this it was agreed that I should receive $200. in cash and $100. in Botanical specimens, to be used by me, as I then indicated, at a given time. At first Prest. Jaynes promised the plants for the autumn; then he wrote you that you were delayed, but would "positive;y send them before the year (1878) closed!" Then he saw you about it, and a letter was written with a formal promise, signed formally by both he and you, that the plants would be sent me "by the first of January 1879!" I fretted at the