Mr. Ripley and Alex. Smith , Seedsmen, 388 Broadway, are both upon the look-out for a gardener. At 10 this morning, a Mr. James Barry called from Smith . Barry requires, in addition to the $400, a house, kitchen, sitting room and one bed room, fuel, and vegetables with milk. I was writing his terms out, when Mr. Ripley came in with an application from an "English Gardener", who will call upon me tomorrow, and who will accept of the $400 without other provision. As this last applicant is so ready,and quite as able (as represented by Mr. Ripley as Barry, perhaps, I have almost determined to send him on at once, so that you will suffer no more delay, and if you find him the right sort of man, you will cheerfully add his road expenses to the 400, but this will be at your option.

Wednesday, 6 P.M. Since writing the above I have seen Mr. John Loader , with Mr. Ripley, and have agreed with him, the said Loader , that he shall set out for Chapel Hill on Monday or Tuesday next, 15 or 16th March, and that you will pay him twenty dollars when he arrives at Chapel Hill for road expenses the same not to be subtracted from his salary of 400 per year. The engagement to continue for one year from the timeof his leaving New York, and longer if you should agree together.

Mr. Loader has letters from England having been employed at Lion House in the botanic garden of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland,1 and Mr. Ripley speaks well of him; in his opinion as fitting for your purposes as either Cavanaugh or McLaughlin.

Trusting, that we shall not be deceived again, as in the case of McLaughlin; I remain

P.S. Please observe that the road or path turnings and crooks in the sketch I sent by Mr. Donaldson are not capriciously made, but designed so as to present sunny and shady places for trees that flourish best in sun or shade. This however I leave for you and the gardener to discuss on the grounds before adopting the plan.

1. Probably Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland.