86 The Life and Writings of 



and Aedyeio. I get many others engraved here, and intend they 

 should make part of an essay on the natural history of American 

 fungi, that I shall publish in more peaceable times. I shall make 

 it a point to forward you my productions. I contemplate a natural 

 history of all the vegetables in America, and perhaps the animals 

 likewise, and whatever communications on those beings you may 

 choose to make will be highly acceptable. 



&quot; My leisure is now wholly engaged in investigating the Nat. 

 history of this Island, which I likewise contemplate to achieve, and 

 I am already very far advanced with the plants, Birds, Fishes, and 

 Mollusks, and I shall soon begin the remaining classes. 



&quot; It has always been my wish to be associated to some American 

 philosophical or botanical Society or Academy, and I suppose it 

 would not be very difficult to be aggregated as Corresp d Member 

 through your means; and in case it should not be so easy as I 

 conceive, please to point out to me the means to become such. If 

 communications, presents of books or Natural curiosities, should be 

 necessary before or after, I am willing to send such as you will 

 think most proper. Your particular attention to this will infinitely 

 oblige me. 



&quot;Please to mention what new books or discoveries have been 

 published in America on any part of Natural history. 



&quot; If your friend Mr. Wm. Peck, or any other gentleman, would 

 also enter into a Botanical Correspondence with me, it would be 

 very gratifying for me. Pray what has the Erica returned to some 

 Andromeda or Dabcecia? or what? 



&quot; I remain, truly, 



Your most obedient servant, 



C. S. RAFINESQUE SCHMALTZ, 



Chancellor of the American Consulat, Palermo. 



&quot; P. S. I could not get the parcel of plants ready for this oppor 

 tunity, but I shall send them by another, the William Gray, that 

 sails for Salem in fifteen days, and the Super., Mr. Waldo, will take 

 charge of them.&quot; 



