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amateurs are scattered through this continent ; and 

 some European rather travelling gardeners than real 

 hotanists are collecting plants and shrubs and trees 

 for the gardens of European rich men, — or for the 

 nurseries. In the two years that I have lived and 

 travelled in the United States, I have found only a 

 man*, and a young one too, a physician of this town, 

 who shows a true botanic genius and great zeal for 

 science ; he has already acquired a great scientific 

 knowledge, only aided by his industry and the limited 

 number of botanic books which the country affords. 

 He will be I am confident an illustrious botanist, if 

 he is put in correspondence with the chiefs of the 

 science, and helped by their knowledge in the doubts 

 that he may encounter. 



I am persuaded I do a great service to botany as well 

 as to him by introducing him to you, our venerable 

 patriarch. By fostering his efforts, and by resolving 

 his doubts, you will I am sure in a few years bring 

 forth more thorough knowledge of North American 

 plants than we have hitherto had. He will write to 

 you and send this little memorandum. His name 

 is Dr. Bigelow, and his fixed residence Boston. 



If I live some years, I am confident you will thank 

 me, in the name of the botanic church, for having 

 been instrumental to open this correspondence. 



From Philadelphia I intend to write to you and 

 send you some few things. Farewell till then ! 

 Most sincerely yours, 



Joseph Correa de Serra. 



* Dr. Mulilenburg excepted. 



