
          you by the next train which we shall probably
 meet in a few days. I also claim the privilege of
 suggesting the name of Lt. Whipple to whom to dedicate
 its specific name. Lt Whipple has the immediate 
 command of this division of the expedition 
 from San Antonio to El Paso. Mr. Bartlett
 having some days before we did started with a 
 smaller division to reach El Paso on the 4th
 Nov [November] by forced marches. Lt Whipple decidingly
 possessing a most amiable & unassuming character
 ranks high in scientific attainments particularly 
 astronomy. An additional inducement
 is the fact that as Lt. Emory on a similar expedition
 was honored with an oak, I should be pleased
 to see Lt Whipple complimented with a genus
 not much less famed in history. The only oak
 I have thus far seen in Devil's River vally [valley] is the
 Quercus Emoryi growing side by side with this
 Juglans. I enclose also a beautiful fern
 what I take to be a Pteris and a few other
 ferns. Accept my profound respects


 Yours most obediently
 John M. Bigelow


 Prof [Professor] John Torrey

        