West Bradford ye 7th of the 1st mo. 1786
To the American Philosophical Society
Gentlemen.
Having Since the revolution & National Establishment of Peace in our Land, Had a turn of thought to revise in the memory of the Members of the Society, Something of the Eager Pursuits, & fervency of mind that Seemed to appear at the first Establishment thereof; (as well as the Contributing thereto by throwing a smal mite into the treasury or Collection of Usefull Knowledge; Have at Leasure Hours taken Pains to Select & arange in Alphabitical order, the Greatest part of our Forrest trees & shrubs, Natives of our United States, With their Botonical Characters; I have Likewise had in Contemplation the giving a further account of the Herbacious plants that are natives With us, But being Conscious that it Could not be done in that Perfection, that I would wish it to be, By reason of our Western territories, not having Been Sufficiently Explored, By any Botonical Person, that have Given us any account, of ye Vast Varieties, and I make no Doubt, the many new Genusses them Countries must abound With, as well as With a vast Variety of Earths, Stones, Salts, Inflamables, Minerals & metals; The Consideration of Employing Some suitable persons for the purpose I would Wish to Lay before you at this time; and Have for that pirpose made bold to send these few line to the secratary accompanied with one of the Alphebitical Catalogues above mentioned for your Perusal.
From a well wisher to ye promotion of useful Knowledge
Humy Marshall