
          Washington City Aug. [August] 12th 1847.


 Respected Sir,


 The time spent on your last visit here was
 short, and I doubt not, pretty dilligently [diligently] occupied; I should
 have liked much to have had half an hours conversation
 with you, but was deprived of the pleasure and advantage
 it would undoubtedly have afforded me; and I
 hope you will excuse me now, if I make a few inquiries, 
 which I then would have made.


 But in the first place, I have to inform you of the
 reception of a box of dried Plants by the National Institute, 
 from Oregon; They were collected in the vicinity
 of Lapwai, on the Kooskooske, by the Revd [Reverend] Mr Spaulding, 
 with whom I had a partial acquaintance: there
 are about 100 species in many duplicates all in excellent
 order; The date of flowering, their localities, the native
 names of many of them, as well as notes on their
 utile purposes whether if used by the natives or cattle
 as food or medicine [added: have been added]; the specimens are more complete
 in themselves for examination, than any that you yet
 have had from that Country - at least such is my belief; 
 and I do wish, if by any possible means you 
        