
          Phil [Philadelphia] July 4th 1841


 Dr John Torrey


 My dear Sir,


 I had but a slight glimpse at Dr Gray when he passed 
 through Phila [Philadelphia], on and excursion to the South. He left with me
 a bundle containing my solidagos, the genus Aster of the 
 harbarium of the Academy of Sciences and a small parcel
 directed to Dr Lea of Cincinnati. The two last have
 been disposed of as recommended. I have been astonished to 
 find but a part of my solidagos determined; Why have you
 not kept them longer? This circumstance has led me to think
 that you had deferred that publication of the next number.


 You inquired in you last favor about Rafinesque
 herbarium. I can now tell you that it has become my property.
 I did not intend to buy it, as it was too voluminous and I
 know it contained a [vart?] deal of trash. I proposed to the
 executor to take from it whatever plant would suit me
 and pay 10 cents, per specimen, This I thought advantageous 
 to both parties. I would have then increased my collection without
 incumberance & without diminishing [added: much of] the value of the herbarium.
 I proposed other means of disposing of it most advantageously
 [?] finally it was exposed to public sale, without a single
 bidder and left afterwards for 5 or 6 month [months] in a gamer
 room of the auction establishment, when it has been exposed
 to the depradations and filth of an array of rats by which
 I has been partly distroyed [destroyed]. For several reasons, not a single
 individual has made an offer to buy it and the principal
        