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May 20 1802
Sir
I have sent by the Speedy a packing case containing 3 boxes. One with specimens of plants, of which you will find 2 parcels, the lower one marked Caley, which is a collection I have gathered for myself. It does not contain to my knowledge one different specimen than what I have sent you at different times, excepting some of the commonest plants of this country, which you have long ago been posessed of. Nevertheless I would advise you to look it over, as probably you may find names prefixed to some of them, which were sent to you before I had examined them. I have put up some duplicates of the same, which I intend for my Manchester friends. If there should be any that you fancy, you can take them & let me know, & I can gather some more. I have took the liberty to place them in your paper, as what I have got of my own, did not correspond with the size of the box. And must by the favor of you to keep them until I return. I pride myself more in having a good Hortus Siccus than in all the riches in the universe. In your parcel you will find that I have sent several that I have sent before. The initials A & B denote Albion & Buffalo, whom I sent the originals by, but by being hurried I was obliged to decline this reference. I am afraid that by placing them so close & thick they will be crumpled, but if they are, they may be easily brought to their former state, by placing them simply in sheets of soft paper, then fold them one upon another as in an Herbarium, but with a gentle pressure.
Another box contains seeds, which is parted by paper into 2 divisions. In the first or uppermost, are 19 papers of Gynandrous bulbs, and about 240 papers of seeds, chiefly different, excepting a few duplicates that were put in by mistake and a few that I had sent before, chiefly marked with A & B. The letter M denotes such seeds as I have lately sent by a Mr McKeller, which amount to 100 different sorts. The lower division contains about 157 papers of duplicates. However, you can take your choice of the best which are the newest. In the third box are some skins of birds, but these are far from being good ones. The feathers of the head frequently come of, owing to the kill and being rubbed with Nitre. A small parcel of seeds Mr Suttor desired I would enclose for him. He said he should
Novr 23