(seq. 4)

Your collection of Confervae gives me great pleasure, but all of them
are still strangers to me. You have them living before your eyes —
and can examine them at leisure. Any observation on their proper
names from you will give me great pleasure.

Have you examined the Lichenes and Fungi of your neighborhood? Mi-
chaux has done very little, about 22 Lichenes. We have at Lancaster
at least 124. I have sent all we have to Mess. Swartz and Acharius.
The packet has arrived safe in Sweden and I anxiously expect an
answer with the next vessels from there. Those described of Michaux I
have only in part [viz velleus, pustulatus perforatus, pulmonarius, rangiferi-
nus, floridus, the rest I have not.] Of Sphaeria we have a great number
they are easy kept in paper and will not spoil. If you choose to
see them I will send you such as I know for certain. I collect them
during our winterseason when our phanerogamous plants go to rest.

Our botanical friends here are still alive. D. Barton was lately with
me. He is now a publishing first volume of his flora from Monan-
dria — Octandria, grasses excepted which he leaves untouched. By
what I have seen in MS it will be a good work some rubbish excepted
which he takes from old books out of date. He sent a young gentle-
man on his own expense to the North — and westward to collect plants
who is not yet returned. Much is expected from him. I believe an ex-
cursion through the Jersies would give by far more.

Our friends W. Hamilton has been to the northward near Niagara to re-
cover his health, but has returned much worse, having had a stroke
of the palsy on his right side. There are but little hopes of his recovery.
Mr. Lion has not been with me this year. Whether he made a southern
excursion this year I don't know.

Has Mr. Wilson made his appearance in Carolina? I was much plea-
sed with his company and sincerely wish him good success
I have a botanical friend in Tenessee now at the Natchez, Mr. Henry
Moore, who sends to his brother at Lancaster very instructive letters
on the flora of Tenessee and Natchez. What a wide field is left for
an America botanist. On my excursion this year I have found no-
thing new to me expect the Podostemum Mich. on rocks immersed in the
Susquehanna, and a Silene nivea, having the habit of Saponaria.

In my garden a few plants have flowered from American seeds which
I could add to my catalogue, Spergula arvensis L., Myosotis lappula, Verbas-
cum claytoni (Celsia arcturus Brickel [Brickell] as suspected) Lythrum lineare, Triticum repens
Silphium fol opp. serr. caule glabro from Cherokee NS? Hibiscus moscheutos, Iris fulva
from Mississippi, Delphinium exaltatum, Aconitum uncinatum, Euphorbia lutescens,
and some more. The Violae and Hedysara I have now near one another
alive for closer observation. The one H. I sent you N. 100 is between canadense
96 and ciliare 93 but different of both. The canadense is the first that flow-
ers with us. The length of the petiolus in comparison with a foliolum is a
pretty good mark of distinctions and so the form of the lomentum. With Viola
I look to the capsule and calix of the Aster — flowers. We have I believe 19 spe-
cies of Viola in US. If you could gather the seeds of your peculiar Hedysara
and spare them for me you would do me a particular favour and so with
your Paspala which are (one excepted) strangers with us. I have sown 112
different seeds from Europe chiefly grass seeds quite lately and expect much
pleasure in comparing them with our American grasses. How happy would
I be to have some of your grasses in company [especially you numbers
25, 29, 31, 32, 33, 38. 40. 83. 84. 88 90. 91, 93. 96. 181. 183. 184. 185. 190.] each of
which would be an ornament to my garden.

Soon I expect to see a packet from you or a letter. In the interim I
remain with my best respects to Mrs. Elliot unchangeablly
Sir
Your most obedient servant
and sincere friend
Henry Muhlenberg