
          my attention had not been
called to this before. We are
desirous of doing all in our
power to gratify your wishes. 
Knowing the pressure of your engagements, 
public & private, we 
did not feel at liberty to call
upon you to aid us in the determination
of plants: [crossed out: But] And we appealed
to & have recieved every assistance 
that we could desire from Prof. Gray [Asa Gray],
and, in the [?], from Prof. Dewey. 
We commenced an exploration
last year, & collected between 8 & 900
species: But, at the close of the year, 
we decided to abandon our intentions
        