
                                          West Chester, Pa  Decem. 30. 1828


 Dear Sir,


                    My friend David Townsend [Esq.?], whom
 you may recollect to have seen with me at West
 Point, being on an excursion to Massachusetts - and
 expecting to go and return through your city - I
 thought I would avail myself of the occasion
 to say to you, that if you could have a package
 of those Botanical specimens, which you kindly fur-
 nished me, ready to send when [Mr. T?] returns, it
 would afford an excellent opportunity for a safe
 conveyance.  It would have given me great plea-
 sure to have forwarded by [Mr/Dr T?] any thing which
 we possess here; but as I have heretofore sent 
 those plants which I supposed would be most
 interesting, I did not know how to make a se-
 lection.  I will at any time, however, put up
 & forward to you specimens of our plants, as far 
 as I have duplicates, if you will send me a
 list of those desired. - I hope, towards spring, to
 send you the Plates of Prunus americana, with
 150 of them colored.  My children are now engaged
 in coloring them, under the direction of the young
 lady who made the original drawing.  It is a te-
 dious process - especially to young hands - inasmuch
 as there are several colors & various shades, re-
 presenting the fruit, branch & grasses & dying leaves,
  I feel anxious to know whether you have
 put your second volume to press yet - or what
 prospect there is of our getting it.  We feel the
 want of it very much, in the investigation of our plants.

        