
          Rec'd [Received] Oct. 29
 An'd [Answered] June 5th 1839 - sent list of all his doubtful plants except [Compos.? [Compositae]]


 Tuscumbia Alabama Oct. 16 1838


 Dear Sir


 I have sent a box of plants to you via
 New Orleans from St Louis Mo [Missouri]. They were directed
 to the care of Carey & Co. No. 90 Pine St New York. In the
 same box are small packages for Drs Bennett, Sartwell
 & John Carey with a few shells gathered in the western
 rivers which you can dispose of as you please. I think the
 box will go safely for it was [crossed out: regurly?] shiped [shipped] by a house
 in St Louis connected with another house in New Orleans.
 The reason of my sending it in that direction was owing
 to the lowness of the western rivers & the consequent
 bad facilities for travelling nor could I meet with any
 person going to New York who was willing to take charge
 of such a box. I suppose you will be disapointed [disappointed] on examining
 the collection which is not so extensive nor are the
 specimens as well preserved as you had anticipated.
 I have had to strugle [struggle] with difficulties which I had not
 foreseen, bad accommodations, bad conveyances, extremely
 hot weather & a constitution unable to bear it. The reason
 that I did not follow your advice as to the route was that
 previous to the receipt of your letter I had written to an
 intimate friend & botanist a Mr Potter now at Jacksons
 College La. [Louisiana] engaging to meet him in Illinois last July.
 Again I was unwell & in haste to go South when I put up the
 specimens sent you, hence it was not neatly done some
 of the specimens were wrongly named and many not named
 for which I have since found names besides I am a novice
 & have much to learn in the science. You will much 
 oblige me by correcting the mistakes made naming those
        