
          indeed almost all of which I have never seen in this neighborhood.
If health &, is spared I will send you all I can
collect, but probably I will not send you anything new.
The grasses give me great difficulty & I am certain I cannot
yet distinguish any of them correctly & probably it arises
from this that I find very few species. I will endeavor
to collect them. I promise myself when I become
more perfect in the science of botany the discovery of more 
species which I now pass by considering them the same
with those which are more common. There is a young friend
of mine who is at this time a student in college who
appears inclined to become a botanist & if possible I
will [urge?] him in the prosecution of the study.
He is I expect collecting specimens as far as he has an
opportunity & with him I am also to exchange. As he
lives near me, when he is at home I see him frequently.
I expect to give a good account of him. I sent to Albany for
the Manual. I received what was printed & the remainder 
will be forwarded me by Mr James in a short time.
I delayed this long in writing you in order that you 
might return from your excursion & perhaps have time
to breathe before you were pestered with my nonsense.
Write me soon & let me know what discoveries you
have made. I have a whole letter full of difficulties
that I wish solved, but fear I cannot communicate them 
to you in such a manner that you would know what
I mean. Adieu. I remain your sincere friend
Matthew Stevenson 
Dr John Torrey, New York                               
        