
          Pottsville June 3th 1852


 Dear Sir,


 Returning from the Dismall swamp, I find here your very kind
 and amiable letter and assure you tht I am very gratefull for it and for the
 directions that you give me about the swamps of New-Jersey. I will try to go
 to Quaker bridge next week; it would be the best season to find Sph. Torreyanum
 in fruit. I prepared myself the specimens from the bundle that you sent
 to M Sullivant; but only when our friend had picked out what he wanted for
 communication; I have scarcely fifty specimens left and they are poor. And as
 I prepared the American mosses at 100 specimens this fine sphagnum is one of 
 the few species which is deficient in number. I hope that you will be pleased
 with the preparation and appearance of our mosses. The specimens are as handsome 
 as those of M Sullivants alleghanies mosses and the greatest part have fruit.
 and there is also one hundred species more. If this collection goes well and
 is easily sold, I will prepare the hepatica for a second bundle. Do you think 
 the price would be too high at $5 per hundred. The specimens are glued on white 
 paper and will be enclosed in a portfolio or in a bundle, like those of Drummond.


 Except a fine splachnuno, probably the same as the one collected by Drummond
 near New Orleans, (I have no my microscope with me) and Sphagnum macrophyllum
 sterile and some other sphagna which I collected before in Alabama, I did not
 find in the Dismall swamp anything interesting for Botany. The flora is very
 poor; but the swamp is remarkable on account of the formation of the peat which
 I never observed in such southern latitude. I think I could find the same formation
 in full activity as south as the everglades of Florida. Drummond's take is,
 as I supposed it, formed by a depression or sinking of the ground and evidently 
 the depression continues at our epoch. But I have not time to give you

        