
          Recd Oct 28th
Philadelphia 24th 1837

My good friend.  I have at last heard from you by your
short note handed me by E. Castelman.  I had heard that you were engaged
in journey ! this year & did not know where to write to you.  I have myself
been alive & well all the while, altho' [although] deprived of the pleasure of [crossed out:my] long journeys
this season owing to other occupations & other works; but I am still going on
slowly with my New flora of N. America [North America] and Flora telluriana at once
both suplemental to all other floras!  I have circulated but few copies of the
numbers published, wishing to surprise you and all Botanists when the whole
shall be out, but if you wish to see them earlier I may lend you 5 numbers
of 100 pages each very soon, and more next March, when you will be more
disengaged.  I presume that you will leave off Botany as usual in the Winter
to attend to your Lectures.

I have never rec'd [received] the package of plants last spoken of (with Scolopendrium!)
which you sent me.  I have had for you a very fine package and I am preparing
another at leasure with some of the rare plants of Collins Herbarium.  I told
you that I expected to procure that Herb.  It is now mine, and it has afforded me
much to study since last winter.  I have this acquired many Southern plants
that I lacked, even the Centunculus, Dichondra, [crossed out: Galex] [added: Diphylleia], Mylocarium etc.
I have found some fine or new species, even with duplicates; but many small
and imperfect specimens as usual with some plants not named & of doubtful
Genera upon which I should like your advice if possible, but they are too precious
to send & risk the mislaying.  Partic 7 - 2 N. genera ? of labiate shrubs of
Florica found by Baldwin!  both with linear leaves bu one has capitate flowers
the other fine racemose flowers.  [added: tell me if you know them by this]  They are both quite distinct from the fine N.G
called, fakely, Cunila Nyardoquia coccinea [Cunila coccinea] by Hooker & Lindley, to which I think
of giving my own names, as I have well settled the fact.

My botanical labor & materials swell on as I study & compare all species.
I am myself astonished at it.  What will you dot then?  I wish you would carefuly read
my Principles of Botany in N 1.  H tellus, that are I believe incontrovertible.
I neither envy you nore Nuttal your fine studies & researches, but pray do not
envy my own, nor immense discoveries, for such they are, they have cost me dearly
in time, money, and vexations.  I took Collins Herbal [crossed out:for a cost of] [added:in payment of] $150.  I published
all at my Expense, & I meet no reward as you do!  remember this!  Let then
at least my reward be a fair fame, and gratitude from my colleagues.

Count Castelman only paid me a short visit, the day before leaving town
for the South.  He is chiefly a Zoologist that appears & enquires only for Insects &
quadrupeds, also marine plants.  But I hope to see more of him when he comes
back.  The Exploring expedit [expedition] will go at last.  You never thought to recomend
my works to Dr. Gray & others.  I have only sold a few works to Dr. Pickering,
Azona, Rudolphus, N 1 & 2 of my Flora telluriana etc.

I would have much to say & ask, but you wil not perhaps have leasure to
answer me.  Did you go to the Saranac Mts or head of Hudson, where I attempted
twice to go in 1816 and 1834?  I hear my surmises confirmed abt [about] that region
        