
          Albany Aug. 4th 1818

Dear friend

Why will you continue to omit parts
of my letter for the purpose of furnishing [scolding?]
materials. I have told you more than once
that my collection of plants is at Dr. D. [David]
Hunt's in Northampton. Week after next 
I calculate to go after them and may minerals
in about 25 days from this date. If you
will call here you may ransack all my
mass of rocks and weeds. Or if you should not
come to Albany (but you must come) I will send 
you such as I think you have not [?].

Edwin James proposed synonymy is to be principally
a compilation. He did not intend to repy
much on original observations excepting the few
which he could obtain from you and others.

Some of your queries I have considered before. 
But dared not venture to make alterations.
For example, I told my class at Williams College
that I believed the Epilobium tetragonum and
palistre were the same. It is very difficult in the
hurry of such an extensive work, to be accurate
in all parts; and still more difficult to correct
the errors of others. But each individual botanist
ought to correct the errors which come directly
under his notice, when he has leisure to be
minute in his observations.

I find I have omitted several things, which I
intended to have included. But I have not yet
discovered that I have omitted any of the plants which
and I have not credited any [added: [?]] on the authority of [?], Muhlenberg or Pursh.
You mentioned to me.  If your catalogue is not

[sideways: where shall I find a good explanation of [Antoine Laurent de] Jeussieu's Natural Orders?
Where shall I get a good system of insects?]
        