
          And. [Answered] Aug 22


 Middletown Connt [Connecticut]
 Aug 16th 1839.


 My Dear friend


 Your letter of July 8th was duly received and I then
 regretted you left the City before I had time to request you to send me
 your asters, and the Annals of the Lyceum and Hookers Brit. [British] Flora Ed 1st. 
 you kindly offered me. The package of plants was from my friend
 and pupil Mr W H Potter [insert: who's] with Prof Carpenter at Jackson Louisiana. This
 package contained a very choice collection of plants, that will add much
 to the value of my Herbarium. I write here thank you for the interesting
 facts you give me from time to time, and especially about our friend
 Dr. Gray. I heard of your being at Utica some time ago, where
 Mr. Redfield saw you. Supposing you loaded with plants, and about
 ready to return I was on the point of addressing you, when yours of
 Aug 15th reached me this evening. The Book you name shall be
 sent immediately. ** You ask what I am doing in Botany.
 This Spring besides the Willows I rexamined all the Carices of this Region
 and dried a choice collection of all, in papers 27 inches by 13/2!
 I have about 50 speciments of each, and of the rarest things 100 or more!
 As a whole I will match my set of duplicates [added: Carices] against any  thing you can show*!
 I kept a copious journal of the flowering of all the Carices, and the time
 of ripening or rather the maturity of the fruits when most fit for specimens
 besides notes &c and also a calendar and notes of the flowering and 
 ripening of fruits &c &c. The Lat [Latitude] of Middletown is 41° 33' 8" N. [North]
 Long [Longitude] 72° 30' 33" W. [West]. These data would serve to correct many 
 errors in the books and there are very many. 
 Having occasion to ride much about I constantly take in my carriage
 one or 2 large portfolios and collect through the season a great number
 of our finest and rarest plants. and have the present season enriched
 my collection by many rare and valuable specimens besides completing
 lots of Oaks, Maples, Carices, &c, Salices Populus &c &c
 I have fine sets of Asters, Solidagos, Prenanthes, Eupatorium,
 [illegible], Lespedeza, [crossed out: and] [added: beside] many of the Composita of any or
 all these, I could [crossed out: illegible] if you [added: will] give me [crossed out: a few equivalent] [added: plants &c] 
 I would in one month or this fall, furnish sets for your
 State Botany. I believe I have on hand about thirty thousand
 duplicates in all! The sets of Willows Asters Prenanthes
 &c you may depend upon. They are all sorted and can
 soon be made ready if wanted.


 ** There are several gentlemen from N [New] York and I will hand the parcel to one of them


 [in margin]
 *I took particular pains in selecting specimens having radical leaves &c for my arranged and gleaned
 specimens [cut out?] of my new set. I can improve a little and have some thing among them
 for you and some notes that will surprise  you.

        