
          A few weeks since, I received from Prof. Hooker
 a noble collection of English & continental specimens,
 accompanied by a very friendly & polite letter
 & also a copy of the last Edition of his British Flora.
 I have put all the specimens into the Herbariums
 of our cabinet, - as I do all that I collect: for
 my ambition is to have one good public herbarium
 for the gratification of Botanists who may visit
 us.  We have now quite an interesting collection.
 I have some idea of endeavoring to print a catalogue
 of our Herbarium, some of these days,
 for the purpose of distribution; to let
 our correspondents, & the Botanical
 world see what we have.  Perhaps I might
 induce some amateurs to give us a call.
 I do not wholly despair of the pleasure
 of a visit from you - though you have
 been so often in Philadelphia - without coming
 out to our town, that I am not quite so
 sanguine as I once was in that particular
 [illegible] when our railroad to Philadelphia is com-
 pleted, (which I trust will be this season), you may
 be induced to make the trip.


     I shall be glad to hear that my package of
 books has reached you in safety.
                       Dear Sir,
                                    yours truly


                                   Wm. Darlington
 Dr. Jn. Torrey,
    New York
        