Introduces himself and his botanical work: has collected 1200 plants from the 10 sq miles of his neighbourhood, from which he is publishing an "Index florae Lancastriensis" in the third volume of the Transactions of the Philadelphia Philosophical Society. Is now making a full description of the indigenous plants of Pennslyvania in the fashion of [William] Withering, [John] Lightfoot, or [Carl Peter] Thunberg, but frustrated by his ignorance of which plants Linnaeus has already described. Received some assistance from [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber, now requests Smith's assitance after seeing him mentioned as holder of Linnaean collections by [Jonathan] Stokes in "Withering's Arranagement". Offers to send prepared specimens for Smith to confirm.