
                                                                                   West Chester, Penn. August 13. 1838


 My dear Sir,


                                Yours of the 2nd [inst.?] was duly received;
 and, being in Philadelphia last week, I also received the copy of the
 first number of the Flora of N. America, which you were so
 kind as to send me - for which you will please accept my
 sincere thanks.  I am truly glad to see the progress you
 have already made in the work; and trust you will be
 enabled and encouraged to proceed with it, to completion
 with all reasonable dispatch.  I shall take great plea;
 sure in endeavoring to procure subscribers for it, among
 my botanical acquaintance. I urged the same thing
 a short time since, in a letter to Dr. Short - desiring him
 to enlist all the Botanists of the West, in its support.
 I have obtained 4 or 5 subscribers in this village - & hope
 to get as many more in the county, - as soon as I can
 have an opportunity to meet with them.  I have left
 the names of those obtained with Carey& [Hart?]- and have
 undertaken to distribute the copies; & collect the money.
 This has already been done with the copies now sub:
 scribed for, - & I shall do the same with such others
 as I may be able to procure.  You should take
 measures to make the work as extensively known in Europe,
 as possible; as there can be no doubt but a general flora
 of our country will be received there with great interest, -
 and, consequently ought to be encouraged in the same degree,
 I will endeavor, as your request, to furnish a brief
 notice of the flora for [Silliman's?] journal - though I
 should prefer to see it done by a more competent hand.
 I am very poorly qualified to perform such little
 literary tasks - both by education & practice; but, as my
 will is good - and my desire to have the work generally
 known, very strong - I shall make the attempt, in a
 paragraph or two: & you must accept the will for the deed.

        