
          My profession as civil engineer has given me an opportunity to observe
 the plants and trees of Pennsylvania and I have given Dr. Porter my 
 views on the doubtful and confused species and varieties. 
 A large portion of the very little leisure time I have been able to 
 afford from the present of my business I have given to the other
 branches of the Natural History of this state, and I have not been
 able to become proficient in any branch of investigation. Solitary
 and done with no assistance within two hundred miles I have 
 worked away as circumstances would permit. The want of 
 works on the subject has been discouraging and held me back 
 when I desired to move ahead,  [M?] have no "Botany" of our
 state, not even a "[?]" that is all complete and 
 in the other branches of Natural History we are equally bad off
 but we have the materials for a splendid work! But who 
 will work it up?
        I intend to take my full [?] with me. Plants, fossils, minerals, shells, reptiles. 
         I [search?] an essay on the grasses to Ms. [?] which is 
 published in the Tribune, but the errors were so [?] 
 ones and outrageous that hereafter, I will let my manuscripts
 [?] in quiet when they are now deported. 
           Pardon this intrusion, and if  here, or in Virginia, I can 
 contribute to your information I will be more [?] to do so. 
                         With great respect, 
                                          Most truly yours, 
                                                                     J. M. McMinn
        