
          Red [Received] Aug[August] 21


 Phila [Philadelphia] Augt [August] 18th 1837


 Dr. J. [John] Torrey, N. Y. [New York]


 Dear Sir,


 Your obliging answer dated 25th last was handed by Dr Gray, whose
 agreable [agreeable] acquaintance It gave me an opportunity to cultivate a little farther.
 I send you by him a fascicle of Louisiana, Georgia and Norfolk plants,
 the last of which I collected myself a few weeks ago, in spite of the
 most oppressive heat I ever felt and myriads of [crossed out: illegible] sea ticks that infect
 the grass and even the sands of that neighbourhood. The Georgia plants were
 received from a young apothecary of this city, established at savannah,
 whose zeal for the Science [added: is highly] promising to the botanical world and to his
 friends in particular. In order to exite his taste for exchanges, I
 presented him with a bundle of 4 or 500 specimens and I expect to
 establish with him a useful and permanent intercourse. The Louisiana
 plants are no in [added:a] fine state of preservation; but they may be interesting.


 I have again taken the liberty of adressing you some queries; It is
 perhaps making too free with you; but I hope you will pardon me;
 You have listened to me with such kindess before that I have become
 bolder. Until we have a general species pl. of n. [North] america. It is difficult 
 to ascertain with precision the identity of our species. Upon you,
 Sir, are out expectations concentrated and I hope it will not be
 long before your wok is given to the public; By it, will the
 clouds of uncertainity, confusion and incompletely that overcast our
 science, be dispelled and a new vista be opened to guide
 smoothly our path in this now gloomy labyrinth [added: in which] we are engaged [crossed out: in].


 I speak as a botanist, although I do not deserve yet this
 enviable name. I am now but a mere collector of specimens, 

        