
          Washington City April 12th 1848.

Doctor Torrey

My dear Sir,

Yours of the 1st inst [instant] was duly received;
But lack of time in this fine spring weather prevented me from
answering it sooner.

With regard to the Sarracenia in our Californian collection
it was found by myself on the Californian Mountains, near
to the Shasta Peak, about Lat [latitude] 41. inhabiting the margins of
a very shallow stream in Co. [conjunction?] with a sp. [species] of Parnassia and
Epipaetus. which stream I judged to proceed from a marsh,
or swamp near the base of the Peak, the peculiar features
of the ridge, indicating [added: the existence of] a marsh in that direction; Our
party having gone on and left me alone, there was no time
for me to follow this stream up to its source, The number
of plants of Sarracenia seen, might be about 100, irregularly 
distributed in patches along the margin of this shallow stream, in
a very robust state of growth; And I am pretty certain, that these
were only evidence of a single flower having existed in [in?] each
scape, And in this I think the vestiges in your possession will bear
me out, and these were the most perfect specimens to be procured 
at that season (Oct [October] 5th), its season of flowering I supposed to be
about the latter end of July; I speak with confidence in saying
that the pitchers contain a considerable quantity of water, my attention
        