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1 Near Snelling Merced Co California July 26th 68 Dear friend Mrs Carr, I have had the pleasure of but one letter since
leaving home from you, that I rec'd at Gainesville, Ga' - I have not rec'd a letter from any source since leaving Florida,
of course I am very lonesome, hunger terribly for the communion of friends, I will remain here eight or nine months hope to
hear from all my friends. Fate flowers have carried me to California, I have reveled luxuriated amid its plants mountains
nearly four months, I am well again, I came to life in the cool winds crystal waters of the mountains, were it not for a thought
now then of loneliness isolation, the pleasure of my existence would be complete. I have forgotten whether I wrote you from
Cuba or not, I spent four happy weeks there in January February I saw only a very little of the grandeur of Panama, for my
health was still in wreck, I did not venture to await the ar- rival of another steamer, I had but half a day to collect specimens
- the isthmus train rushed on with cruel speed through the gorgeous Eden of vines palms, I could only gaze from the car platform,
weep, pray that the Lord would someday give me strength to see it better. After a delightful sail deleted deleted I arrived
in San Fran' in margin: Remember me to the illegible I hope he has the pleasure of sowing in good honest illegible the glorious
truth of science to which he has devoted his life. Give my love to all your boys and my little Butler. Adieu JMuir Address
Hopeton Merced Co Cala