THE CORRESPONDENCE OF SCHWEINITZ AND TORREY 157 
May I not repeat a question I once asked you—What cer- 
tainty is there [in the] nomenclature of the lower orders of the 
Cryptogamia? In the genus Hypnum particularly, I scarcely 
find two botanists who agree about the name of any of the species. 
Some months since I sent a large box of mosses to Prof. Hooker the 
British Muscologist & when he returns a catalogue of them I 
shall no doubt find him at variance with most other botanists 
who have determined them before. 
I am now engaged in writing my Flora of the Northern States 
[89], the first number of which I am preparing for the press. I 
hope you will assist me to the plants growing in your vicinity. 
There are many species enumerated in Muhlenberg’s Catalogue 
[52] & said to be natives of Pennsylvania, which I do not know 
under his names. I shall send you a list of them soon— 
I have only room to express to you the high respect, 
with which I remain— Dear Sir—Your obliged friend 
Joun TORREY 
[SCHWEINITz’s letter of February 25, 1822, is missing.] 
TORREY TO SCHWEINITZ 
NEw York. March 18th 1822 
Dear Sir 
Two or three days ago I received at my father’s house at 
Greenwich (where I had retired a fortnight for the purpose of ar- 
ranging my herbarium) a note from an unknown person informing 
me that he had called repeatedly at my office with a package from 
you & had not found me at home. I desired my brother to call 
for it, but the gentleman was absent. On Saturday night (the day 
before yesterday) I received another note from the same person, 
informing me that he would leave town to day for Bethlehem. 
Yesterday being Sunday I could not prepare any thing for you, but 
this morning I have put up 35 species of Cryptogamia, & Spren- 
gel’s Neue Entd. [84] with Treviranus &c. These are added to the 
Phaenogamous plants which were left out of the last package by 
mistake. Mr Halsey’s little package is also inclosed. I know 
not whether I shall secure this opportunity or not, but I shall 
carry the package to town immediately at a venture. I am also as 
