
          I have never been so fortunate as to make
 much acquaintance with Cryptogamy, but
 hope to turn my attention to the subject as
 soon as I shall have gotten through with my
 Catalogue of [Phanerogam?] plants. Occupied
 in an arduous profession, and located in a village
 remote from all Society which could aid or
 stimulate me in the study of Natural Science,
 I have hitherto merely indulged a fondness
 for the study of plants, by employing my short
 and broken intervals of leisure in collecting and
 arranging the phanerogamous vegetables within
 the compass of my [rides?]  in a Country practice
 of Physics. The acquaintance, however,
 which I have of late years formed
 with several distinguished botanists,
 has seemed to infuse new life into
 my researching, and even to enhance
 the pleasure which I have always
 taken in the pursuit. I anticipate
 much gratification in improving the
 opportunity which you so obigingly
 present, by offering to communicate
 with me on the subject: and if the occasional
 receipt of a hastily written, desultory and diffuse
 spittle, on a favorite topic, should not be
 unknown to you, you may expect to hear,
 in that way, from, Sir,


 very respectfully,
 your most obedt. [obedient]
 William Darlington


 Dr. J. Torrey
 West Point
 N.Y. [New York]
        