
          Washington D. C. 
 Jany. [January] 22, 1855.


 Prof. John Torrey,
 New York


 Dear Sir,


 When I wrote to 
 you some three days since I was not able 
 to speak positively of the size of the plates for 
 the illustration of your report, - for it was 
 desirable that they should be uniform with 
 the plates of other reports, the size of which 
 had been established (after consultation with the 
 Secty. [Secretary] of War) & Prof. Baird. I called on the Professor 
 on Saturday and learned, or rather was confirmed 
 in what I had before understood from him, that 
 the plates and drawings which have been executed 
 under his direction, on all of the 4t [quarto] - or, as 
 he says, of the size of the "Smithsonian Plate" 
 with which you are acquainted. It is desirable 
 therefore that the Botanical drawings should 
 correspond to that size. 


 I am, dear Sir,
 Your most obet [obedient] svt [servant]
 E G Beckwith
        