
          Smithsonian Institution
Washington, Nov. 3rd 1856

Dear Sir.

Accompanying this letter I send you a paper
on Nitrification, which has been prepared at the
request of this Institution in answer to a letter addressed
to us by the Secretary of War.

I write to request, in behalf of the Regents
that you will examine the paper and inform us whether
in your opinion the facts and suggestions which it presents
are such as you can approve, and that you will favor
us with any corrections or additions to the article which
may occur to you.

I am

Very Respectfully

Your obdt. servt.

Joseph Henry
Secretary

John Torrey.
New York.
        