
          mine. A. J. Downing Esq of Newburgh. The paper was read at
a late [crossed out: number] [added: meeting] of the Lyceum, & the Society voted that it
should be offered you for publication. Tell me whether you
will receive it. I suppose it will make from 4 to 6 pages.

We hear very little about the S. Sea Expedn.[Expedition]. The Secty.[Secretary] of
the Navy wrote to me lately to make out a list of
botanical works for the Expedn.[Expedition] He proposes to call the 
scientific Corps together soon, but he has not yet made 
a single appointment! I think, however, that he is
pledged to Dr. Pickering, Mr. Dana, Dr. Gray & Mr. Rich.

I urged him to send Dr. Gray & Dr. Pickering to Europe
immediately, that they might purchase books, apparatus, 
&c.[etc.] & visit the principal gentlemen who have
recently been employed on similar service.

Yours with sincere regard
John Torrey

I have just written a little biographical [?]
of Mr. Chilton for one of the newspapers. We will
probably give some account of his life in the Journal.
        