
          have been still lower (if possible) of late than ever. He desired
me not long since to send him certain Ky. [Kentucky] plants, expressing a great
desire to possess them, and promising anything in return. Willing to
accommodate him, and wishing at the same time to test the truth
of his numberless new discoveries in this State, I told him he shd. [should]
have what he asked of me, provided he would send me some of
the new genera and species which he had met with here. This he
declined doing because he could not exchange his new plants: he
could only sell them! This confirms me in my suspicions that he
really has them not, and that his pretended discoveries exist only in
pretension. I am the more confirmed in this opinion from his having
acknowledged that he never met with the [Fraxine?] celonoides in this
state, than which a more common plant does not exist in
certain localities which he must have visited. All this, however [is]
entre nous; I have no wish to injure the poor fellow, and
if he can live by imposing on others I have no objections.
I am sorry, however, that I have met with so few Hypericums this
season, since they seem to be at present an especial object of your
investigation.

I am indeed under great obligations to you for
your kind offer to make marginal observations on Nuttall's plants
of Arkansas, and for this purpose I will desire Mr. J. [Judah] Dobson (my bookseller)
of Phila. [Philadelphia] to send you a copy of that part of the Phil. Soc's Transs. [Philosophical Society's Transactions]
containing it. By the bye, I am very anxious to obtain for my 
friend Dr. Leavenworth (of the U.S. Army, now stationed at Fort Towson) 
a copy of your memoir on the plants collected by Dr. James on Long's 
expedition. Can you favour me with one for him. If not, I must 
desire Mr. Dobson to send me the vol. of the Ann. N.Y. [Annals of the New York] Lyceum containing 
it. If you have a spare copy of the separate paper pray send 
it to me by mail.

Very sincerely my dear Sir 
I am yours
C.W. Short
        