
          in fruit; nor have I then in fact thought of the subject. However, this 
matter is of little consequence to me at present. In fact 
I love the pursuit of Natural History as well as ever; but have been obliged 
to abandon its pursuit, in every way, except very small elementary instruction 
in it. Do you not consider Mr. Wood's Book as containing a 
good many inaccuracies? It seems to me to be so. I should be glad 
to have a copy of your Botany of New York; but I should probably never see 
it. I have very little respect for the method, in which our numerous 
governments manage such matters. I have not seen A. De Jussieu's 
Intro. to Botany & in all probability never shall.  I consider myself as 
having done with medicine, & natural history likewise; and 
if I only had any employment intirely [entirely] distinct from either, I would never again bestow a thought upon the former; though, I think I 
shall always be inclined to cherish what little knowledge 
of the latter still remains to me. Formerly I have been very strongly 
interested in Chemistry; & after the publication of [Hanson's?] lasted edition 
of his Vegetable Organic Chemistry, I carefully examined his chaos of compounds, described in that work, & flattered myself that I 
had found art or method, by which the whole may be reduced 
to a few perfectly analogous grasses, subgrasses, etc.

I felt obligated to inform you that I did not omit 
to reply to your proposition, made long ago; but when

[continued on bttom half]
I began, I did contemplate inflicting so much upon you.
I shall never the less forward it, just as it is, & however trifling 
it may be.

I remain yours, Sir with the very highest respect.

William Tully

Prof. J. Torrey, M.D.
Princeton, 
New Jersey
        