(seq. 3)

Pine hill, Feb'r 10, 1812

Dear Sir,

I rec'd yours of 17th alt. a few minutes previous to
the setting off of our post, & these intervening moments
I devote to a hasty reply.

Your kind intention of sending me a
copy of Walter has been anticipated by my friend the
Rev'd Mr. Gadsden who sends me one from the Charls-
ton Library & by attending to the proper time of renew
=al he has procured me the possession of it for a
few months.

Your design of connecting entomology
with your Flora I applaud highly. The connection
is natural, important & highy interesting. What can
reflect more disgrace on the state of natural sci
=ence in this country than the ignorance which has
prevailed respecting the causes of the desturction of
our pine-forests? The evil is a devious one, & we
can only hope to obtain a remedy from a minute
attention to the history of the insect whose labours
have proved so great a curse. In this way did the
illustrious Linnaus point out a remedy for the destruc
tive ravages of the cerambyx which took away at one time the
[reputation?] & utility of thier ship timber.

To the medicinal properties of our plants
I may be said to have paid some attention for 4 or 5 years
past. Many of my observations have been embodied by
Dr. Barton in his "collection," or rather, he intends doing
so in the spring. As far as I can serve you in this
department as well as in others you may command
me. Does the Eriogonum Tomentosum of Michaux grow
near you? What are its popular synonyms? This is
the chrysosplenium oppontifol. [oppontifolium] of Walter as you doubt-
less know.