p.2

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began collecting. I received much
valuable aid and advice from such
men as Mr Wheately, Mr Isaac [Leu?], and
especially Dr. Lewis of Mohawk, N.Y.

These favors are continual, and have put
me under obligation, not only to them, but,
to the great world of conchological
research, a scientific fraternity, whose
field of action girdles the earth.
I wish, if possible, to repay, somewhat,
this indebtedness, and can best do so,
perhaps, in the way I have suggested.
My cabinet is growing rapidly, but is
without representation from your region.
I am anxious to get the fluviatile mollusca
unionidae especially, also univalaes and
[Helicidea?]. If you know the address of
any reliable Wis. or Iowa collector, with
whom I could get exchange, I should
be very glad of the information.
I have a week of leisure during the
vacation, and will put you up a fair
representation of our [Unios?] &c [etc] and send

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them on. I would also enclose helices,
papae, [viviparidae?], &c [etc], but that my
time is so fully occupied, that I
have none in which to go through my
list of duplicates. I will do so, however,
as soon as opportunity offers. My last
exchange brought me 94 new species,
not well represented in all cases, but
with [Prisodon?], Leila, &c [etc], this is not always
possible. I hope our correspondence
may grow into something of mutual
advantage at some future time,
as I am a perservering, perhaps
somewhat too persistent worker; but
my little experience in the field of
natural science has been, that we
never have valuable facts come to us
unapplied for. To conclude this very
hastily written letter, permit me to thank
you for your kindess, and to hope
for the information which I have
asked. I will send list of desiderata and
duplicates as soon as I have leisure.

Most truly yours

A. G. Wetherby