
          Phil. [Philadelphia] Dec. [December] 1st 1838


 Prof. [Professor] J. [John] Torrey, N. [New] York.


 Dear Sir,


 With a Raspail's microscope, I send you a list of plants 
 wanting in my american berbarium, for the favor of which I will
 be highly, indebted to you, either for money, exchanges of other
 articles. I am so much the more desirous of completing my
 collection of american plants that I have in contemplation
 to return to my native land, in the [coarse?] of next summer,
 if I can dispose of my establishment and property.


 As to exchanges, I do not think that I can procure you any indigenous
  plants, that you have not already in your immense collection;
 but I have a copious herbarium of exotics, with many rare
 plants from the caucasus alps and attaie mountains and from
 [crossed out: all] parts of Europe. These, I will cheerfully exchange with 
 yours, as my principal object is the completion of an american
 herbarium.


 I have begun this list, where the first part of your flora ends,
 and [perused] the whole of Elliott, Nuttall & Beck, except the 
 gramineace of which I have made but a very imperfect list, not
 knowing recently what I have myself. Many of them included 
 in this list of desiderata may already be in my possession, as
 I have a great number of doubtful specimens, which I have not
 been able as yet to determine, but I will rather have authtentic 
 names, in your own hand writing, even at the risk of multiplying
 my stock of duplicates.


 I shall not leave this country without seeing you in N. Y. [New York]
 and offering you my service in Paris and (If I go at all)
 I will spend a part of the summer in Norfolk, in my wife's
        