
          71

 Schenectady/May 30,1819.

 Dear Friend.

 I received yours of the 15, much gratified
 that after your long silence, you had again taken
 up your pen. I was very happy to learn that some of
 the specimens I sent you were interesting; especially when
 I thought that none of them would be new to you.
 The plant which you suppose to be a new species
 I recollect distinctly. I found it in August [added: last] in a pond
 in the vicinity of this place; the water about 4 or 5
 feet deep. I did not examine it particularly at the
 time, nor have I since. I found it in company
 with the Nuphars, which however at that time
 were nearly out of flower. The flower lie on the surface
 of the water & the stem is nearly erect. This
 is all that I recollect at present concerning this
 plant. I shall examine it more particularly this
 season & communicate the information to you
 immediately. If you think you have sufficient information
 on the subject,  you are at liberty to
 use it as your discretion shall dictate. The Pond
 is generally known by the name of Saunder's Lake,
 about a mile north west of the compact part of the
 city. During this month I have collected about 70
 different species, 50 of which I [crossed out:illegible] [above line:am acquainted with] about 20
 of which, I can make nothing of. The fact is that 
        