
          to be going on in it, - I should feel more disposed to adopt it at once.
 But I do not feel competent to interfere, with a view to aid in
 settling the principles, - and therefore think I had better wait until
 the great masters have united- if that shall ever be- upon some
 definite system, & uniform language. The views of Authors seem
 yet to be quite unsettled; & we are in danger of being lost in a 
 perfect Babel of nomenclature, or glossology. I think there will 
 have to be a Congress of Botanists, to determine what language
 shall be used, or what terms shall be applied to Plants, & their
 component parts; so that we may be relieved of the horrors of
 Synonymy. If that cannot be effected, we must all agree to adopt
 the terminology of some eminent Leader, in order that we may
 understand one another. For my own part, I am quite prepared,
 so far as terms are concerned, "jurare in verba magistri". Indeed
 the existing confusion is enough to make a fellow jurare
 in the vulgar dialect!


 It will give me great pleasure to collect
 specimens of our [], for Dr. Gray's work.
 I shall take an early opportunity to get the
 Poa pungens for him- as it will soon be in flower.
 With respect to the Atheropogon- I fear I have
 not got good specimens on hand; & the plant does not
 flower until the latter end of July. If that time will suit
 him, I will endeavor to have as much as he wishes of it
 collected & forwarded. He can furnish any quantity of it 
 from this neighborhood. -
 Dr. Pickering told me [] had published a complete work
 on the grasses, in one volume. It is not to be had in [Philadelphia]
 Have you got it? If so, what is your opinion of it? Is it sufficiently
 valuable to justify my ordering a copy from Europe?


 I did receive a copy of the [] of the Professors,
 of which you inquire- I thought their case a vexatious one.


 I believe I have now answered all the inquiries in yours,
 I have bored you with a long, tedious letter. Hoping 
 you will not be impatient under the inflictions of my
 correspondence, I remain truly yours, Wm [William] Darlington


 Dr. J. Torrey,
 New York

        