
          you might recommended me for my knowledge of
marine plants, lichens and fungi, as well as the
attention I have paid to the Mosses and ferns, to say
nothing of Forest trees and Willows,
or Mineralogy and Geology, or Entomology!
for I am now by long experience adept in the
collection and preservation of Insects.
If I go out as vocabulist [crossed out: as] I shall not be the
less active as a Botanist, unless this duty takes
up too much of my time.  It appears to me
I can render the Botanists especial service
even if not recognized in that capacity.
There may be cases when the Corps may be divided
and each will have to do the best he can
Should I go it will be very pleasant to have such
a companion as our friend Dr Gray is.

I have always had a strong desire to see the
Islands in the Pacific, and have regretted that the
Missionaries [illegible] so little science.
This expedition if properly conducted will be the means of providing
fine cabinets for the men of science in this Country.
It is greatly to be wished that all the plants of the pacific should
be obtained. but many of these will I fear [added: on the return of the Expedn. [Expedition]] 
require to be compared with the Herbarium of
Sir W [Joseph] Banks now is in the Brit [British] Museum. The number of
species in this famous Collection, amounts to about
Twenty five thousand! There are besides many
valuable drawings. Do you know any thing respecting
the Scientific Books of the expedition? and who has had the
ordering or drawing up of the list of the works in
Botany.  This sure is an important consideration
I presume however you have some knowledge of this
business, if so do tell me, and if it will be

[in left margin:]
I should here tell you that I have looked up and read everything I could find that has a bearing
on the substances used in the art & for manufacture, as well as materia medica, and find much
that Lindley has not. There are some good things in Bancroft on Colours and there is a very 
interesting volume entitled Vegetable substances, viz Materials of Manufactures London 12mo [duodecimo] 1833.

        