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gentleman qualified both by literary
and scientific attainments to perform
such survey with credit to himself and
honour to the State.

I hope the State will order the survey
and that you may be honoured with a commiss[ion?]
to execute the trust and be enabled to
such a service as will entitle you [torn page]
be considered the benefactor of your cau[se] [torn page]

Yours in all kindness
Smiley Shepherd

P.S. I have a little John Bull of an
English boy who has devoured every thing on
the subject of Natural history that I can
procure He indulges in high anticipation
about about [strikethrough] the pleasure he will enjoy in
reading your books when you publish them
so that if he lives you may be sure of one
patron for your works or if you should
turn candidate and his vote would make
you presedent of the United States