
          may be living plants & seeds. Now, my 
dear friend, do arrange that the person be allowed 
to collect for the Duke of Bedford seeds of handsome 
plants, bulbs of [do.?], but above all 
cactuses (of which several are [crossed out: described] [added: mentioned] as 
inhabiting the country by James, &c.) & cuttings 
or small roots of willows. If this 
can be accomplished draw on me, at once,
though Mr. Shaw for £10 on account of
the Duke of Bedford. Indeed his Grace 
is a most munificent patron of botany &
has given me almost an unlimited order 
to pay among what seems I please for 
him. And it is this very circumstance [added: that]
[added: makes me anxious] to secure for him in return something that 
may be interesting to him. He is getting 
together a noble collection of Cacteae,
& those of the southern states of 
N. [North] America & of N. [New] Mexico would be particularly 
acceptable. The jointed species 
had better have cuttings taken of them at the 
joint, the globose ones, should be [?]
carefully, freed from soil & both will travel
famously in a box with dry saw-dust, shavings
or anything to keep them from bruising. Remember 
too the seeds vegetate famously.

If it be desirable to send such things to England 
from St. Louis, they can go to New Orleans 
in my name to the care of W.C. Mylne Esq.
with Messrs. Dennistouns [James and Alexander Dennistoun] N. [New] Orleans, with a request 
that they would forward anything for 
the D. [Duke] of Bedford by first Livl. [Liverpool] vessel, care of
C. Parker Esq. (with an invoice).

I suppose your Taxoid plant has nothing to 
        