
           West-Chester, Penna [Pennsylvania] Aug. 10. 1850.

My dear Sir,

Your kind favor of the 4th inst. [instant]
was duly received; and on the succeeding day,
the very interesting package of botanical specimens,
collected in Col. Fremont's Expeditions, came safely
to hand: for all which I beg you to accept
my grateful acknowledgements. The plants were
nearly all new to our Collection, which now
comprises upwards of seven thousand species.
But how shall I sufficiently express my sense 
of the honor you have done me, in replacing
the genus which Mr. Bentham found it necessary
to merge in Desmanthus? As any attempt of that
kind might appear extravagant, I will only
say that I am profoundly grateful for the distinction;
and cannot but regret that I am not more
worthy of it. Dr. Gray informed me of the 
intended honor, when I was at Cambridge,
last May, and shewed me a rather imperfect
specimen. I should indeed, be very glad to
possess a specimen, if you should ever have
one to spare: and still better, I should like
to cultivate the plant, if it could be obtained.
But I suppose neither plants nor seeds are likely
to be had, in my time: so I will endeavor to content
myself with the figure which you have had made.

        