
          my investigating, to all the vexations & mal-apropos in
 terrupting, incident to a [county?] practice of physic, you
 can appreciate some of my diffiulties in getting
 along with my undertaking - & can readily believe that
 I should be desirous of seeing the end of it as soon
 as practicable.  I shall make a vigorous effort to get
 through with it by next spring.  In the portion al-
 ready struck off, I have made a few references to
 your work, but not with that precision I should
 have liked because it was only by means of my
 correspondence with Mr. [Swchwinity?] that I was enabled
 to do so at all; & he seemed to take it for granted
 that I had access to the Flora.  This will serve to explain
 a number of my deficiencies.  Under all the circumstances,
 I feel strongly incited to make preparations for a more
 correct [?], in another edition; if I should live
 to be greatly erroneous in any local [?], like mine,
 at this  time of day.  Our American Botany is certainly
 acquiring a most delightful precision, by the labors
 which you, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Nuttal, Mr. Schwinicity, & others
 are bestowing upon it; and I think, with a little care,
 we may soon get rid of all those remnants of doubt,
 & confusion, which yet [?] on certain portions of it. 
 By the way, we have a species of Prunus in this
 vicinity, (the Prunus americana, of Marshall's [Arbustum?]
 americanum) which I do not distinctly recognize in your
 Flora.  I think [Muhlenberg?] refers to it in his catalogue,
 (1st Edition) under the name of "P. nigna (Americana) Yellow Plum"
 but I cannot help doubting its being the P. nigna of the books:
 as they seem to have reference to a cherry, properly speaking
 See [Persoon?], & your P. nigna appears also to be the same. I
        