
          Dr Torrey NYC

Philadelphia 5 Dec 1832

My Friend.  I am in time to write again by this
private opportunity, to say, that I have begun to
go thru' my European Herbarium also in order to
compare some doubtful Sp [specimens] , and I find that  the
Specimens sent me from Europe are just like mine &
no better nor larger, or the large ones in a small proportion,
the only difference I perceive sometimes is that the
plants are more flattened by a press, while you know
I would not use a press in travelling on foot, but have
the same good substitute as yourself.  Thus you
may safely know that my great herbal is good
having taken off all the damaged plants.

I have also looked over some plants of yourself
sent me long ago & they are all small!

I have found 400 Europ [European] plants in my herbal
said to grow in America, but 200 are different from
ours.  I wish now to form a complete Americana,
Europe Herbarium Comparatiorum, and beg you to
help me & get all the Europ [European] pl. [plants] (indic. a. Amer, also) for
me in Europe for which I will give 5 amer. in exch [exchange] for 10 
Europ.  Our floras approach in Mosses, alga, Fungi, Carex
& grasses, but we have hardly a similar tree, few shrubs.
The Spirea crenata is very diffr [different] fr [from] my N [new] Sp [species] which you did not
admit, re etc.  The Dodecatheon medica of Lamark is not
that of L, it has leaves Lam fig 99, oblong subserrate.
I prepare a mongraph of this fine G [genus].  help me by
stating forms of all you have.  Your friend

C.S. Rafinesque

        