
          Recd. [Received] Oct. 8-
 And [Answered] 9th


 New York City
 October 6th [in pencil: [1852?]]


 Sir,


 Having recently returned from an exploring
 expedition to the sources of Red river, in the course
 of which I have traversed about one thousand miles
 of country which had heretofore been wholly unknown,
 and having collected a large herbarium during this
 exploration, I am anxious to have it placed in the
 hand of an experienced botanist to be analyzed and
 described.


 Knowing that you have taken a deep interest in
 every thing that relates to the botanical history of our
 country, I take the liberty of addressing you at this
 time for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would
 suit your views and convenience to analyze and
 describe the specimens refered to, [crossed out: in] which event I will
 forward them to you immediately with a sketch of
 the country passed over that you may see at a glance
 where each specimen was found.


 The plants are all sealed upon sheets of paper
 each marked with the day of the month when it 
 was found and are I think in a good state
 of preservation.

        