
          New Haven. March 2d. 1816.

Dear friend,

When I inform you, that I am
the author of the work proposed [crossed out: in] [added with caret: under] this prospectus,
I presume you will perceive the propriety of supressing the name.
You will, of course, receive this communication
confidentially, and prevent Eddy [probably Caspar Wistar Eddy]
and [David] Hosack from knowing that I have
any concern in it. I wish you to procure
me as many subscribers as possible and send
the prospectus to Doct. [Eli] Ives.

I have now before me, [Frederick] Pursh, [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon,
Muhlenbergh [Henry Muhlenberg], [Karl Ludwig] Wildernow’s whole system
—8 vols., the Hortus Kewensis, [William] Turton’s, Linneus,
[William] Woodville, Miller’s Illustrations, Curtis’ lectures,
Smith, & Ray’s whole system, [William] Withering’s whole
system, [Abraham] Rees’ Cyclopoedia, The Edinburgh Encyclopedia,
&c, &c, &c. I attend [Benjamin] Silliman’s lectures
every morning in Chemistry, and Wednesday &
Saturday afternoon in Mineralogy. I have free
access to Gibbs’ [George Gibbs III] splendid collection, and an
extensive mineralogical libra [library]. This work will
not be guided by the silly arrrangement of Pursh.
I follow [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon rigidly in the classical arrangement,
and use Pursh only for his generic
and specific characters. We calculate to give no
individual credit to any European. Saying generally, 
that those without credit are Europeans, the
Americans we shall credit. I wish you to send me
your collection immediately. It shall be returned
perfectly safe. We wish to be able to quote as many
herbariums as possible, which we have ourselves seen. I
have seen yours, and I [would? could?] say so but don’t. Ives wis[hes?]

        