
          Philad. [Philadelphia] Feb. 15, 1833

Dear Sir

I did not receive your letter till yesterday, and 
then too late for the Northern Mail, and am doubtful whether this 
will be in New York before your departure. As you keep an an account 
of debts & credit, I suppose you have chalked me down as one 
letter in your debt already, but you must give me leave to bring in 
a much heavier bill against you, viz. for one visit. While abroad 
I hope you will not confine yourself to England, but at least endeavour
to make an examination of Michaux's herbarium, to which, Mr. 
Cooper informed me, there is no difficulty of access. Unless I am much 
mistaken you will find in it several of Pursh's & Nuttal's [Nuttall's] new species. 
I have no time, neither have I attended enough to the subject, to make out 
a critical list of queries, but one or two suggestions now occur to 
me. Pray, examine whether Nuttal's [Nuttall's] new Sarracenia be not the real S.
psittacina [Sarracenia psittacina of Mx. [Michaux], whether your Trisetum palustre be not the Avena
striata of Mx. [Michaux]. Michaux's Canadian plants  ought to be carefully examined. 
I hope you will seek the acquaintance of La Pilaye [Bachelot de La Pylaie]
who is publishing a Flora of Newfoundland. While with Hooker, perhaps 
you may ascertain whether the White Mountain Arenaria, A. Groenlandica [Arenaria groenlandica]
(Stellaria Groenlandica of the Flora Danica) is not to be found once 
or oftener under the various new species of Stellaria & Arenaria which 
have been usured into the world by R. [Robert] Brown, Hooker, Schlechtendal &c &c.

The collection of Gates, of which you spoke in your 
former letter has not come to hand. I have a number of species
of willow, collected in New England, which I should be exceedingly 
happy to submit to Dr. Barratt if he will make a visit to Philadelphia, 
or to spare him any which he may not have in his possession. I very much 
regret that you have not made us a visit previous to your departure 
as there are several doubtful plants here, of which we are I believe 
the sole depositories.

Yours,
C. Pickering
        