
          Brattleborough (Vermont) 28th April 1820


 Dr Torrey,


 Sir,


 I almost dispair of ever being able to send
 you a box of minerals which I packed last fall.
 There is almost no business communication between
 this quarter of the country and N. York.
 And besides I am at Deerfield but a small part
 of the time and perhaps lose the few chances of sending
 that may occur. Pray have you ever given any
 public account of your new mineral? I shall
 hope to get a specimen at some future time. We
 have lately discovered the Chromate of Iron in this
 quarter of the country. but I have not visited
 the locality yet I can therefore say little of it.


 I enclose a drawing of the Milium involutum
 taken by Miss O. White a friend of mine - She found this
 grass in Amhurst in abundance in May last and
 took the drawing then in order to get the name from
 some botanist.


 I collect occassionally cryptogamous plants this spring
 and may probably trouble you with a few (such as Dr
 Cooley had not sent) for names. A species of Jungermannia
 now in flower grows in abundance on the hills here.
 I think it your nov. sp. [noelifolia?]: but I have no specimen
 for comparison with me. Very few phenogamous plants
  are yet in flower here.


 Dr. Cooley and my self intend to forward you a Catalogue
 of the plants growing spontaneously in Deerfield and its
 vicinity in a few days - omitting however those cryptogamous
 ones of which he has sent specimens. Pray
 when will your Prodromus appear? I feel anxious to see
 it. We labour under a great disadvantage in the country for
 want of books on botany. We are too poor to buy any of 
 the more voluminous and valuable works. 


 Should you have any command please to direct a
 letter to Deerfield Mass. and it will soon reach me.


 With feelings of [?] for your kindness to me
 I [subscribe?] myself your veery humble servant


 Edward Hitchcock


 [at lower left: John Torrey M.D.]


 [crosswise in the left margin: What is the name of this
 Lichen or moss enclosed? It grows
 in dry hills among rocks in this place.]

        