
          Philadelphia Febr. [February] 20 1838


 Recd. [Received]  Febr [February] 3


 Dr. J. [John] Torrey, New York


 Dear Sir,


 I have not been able sooner to answer your letter 
 of Jan. [January] 24; having had no opportunity to inquire from
 Dr Ruschenberger about the bark in question. I had,
 like yourself, read the article; but did not remember
 nor could I find where it had been plubished [published].
 You will find it in Dr. Silliuau's Journal of 1833
 or 34, in a list of Chilian plants translated by
 Dr Ruschenberger. The name of the plant is
 quillaia saponaria Law. and you will find the whole
 description in Lamark's Dictionnaire Encyclopedique
 if you have not the work, I may find you a copy
 of the article. Dr R. [Ruschenberger] whom I did not see himself,
 has given my friend a piece of the bark which I
 send [sent] you. I feel happy to learn positively that 
 you are in earnest about publishing a flora of
 the United States - such work is much wanted - is
 absolutely necessary, for the student of Botany, and
 none is better calculated than yourself to do justice
 to such an undertaking.
        