I Congratulate thee on thy appointment to the Station of President of the State of Pensylvania, And hope thou Will be of Considarable Service in that publick office, by thy Deliberate and Wise Councils. And if the Multiplicity of the Business Concerning the Government of the State Should admit of any Spare hours. I had In Contemplation to mention to thee for they Sentiments thereon, A proposal that I had made Last Winter; to my Cousin Wm. Bartram and Nephew Docr. Moses Marshall, of their taking a tour through the Western Parts of our United States and the new State proposed to be laid out, in order to make Observations &c. upon the Natural productions and Curiosities of those Regions; With a variety of Which, hitherto unnoticed, or but Improperly Described, We have reason to believe they abound; Which on Consideration, they at that time seemd Willing and Desirous to Undertake and I Concieve Would be So Still, Provided they Should meet With proper Encorougement and Support for Such an Undertaking, Which of Consequence Would be attended With Considerable Expence, for the transportation of their Collections &c and for their Subsistence During a period of at Least 15 or 18 months, or more Which Would be Necessary for the Completion of the Numerous observations and objects the Would have to make remarks on and Collect. Should Such proposal be properly Encouraged I apprehend (life and health permitting) they Would Engage to Set out in the Spring and make Diligent Search on their Journey and Strict observation upon Every thing Within the Province of a naturalists But more Especially upon Botany for the Excercise of Which their appears (that in such a journey) their Would present an Extensive field; For from several accounts of our Western territories they are Said to Abound With Varieties of trees Shrubs and plants, no Doubt applicable to many Valuable purposes in arts or manufactories, as also to be replete with Various Species of Earths Stones Salts inflamables, minerals and mettels, the many uses of Obtaining and Knowledge of Which is Sufficiently Obvious; remarks Experiments &c. upon Every of Which the purpose Making. As also to make Collections and preserve Specimen of Every thing that may Enrich usefull Science, or amuse the Curious; To the Conducement of Which they Would Willingly recieve and observe any reasonable instructions that might facilitate their Discoveries or direct their researches.

I have taken the freedom to mention these proposals to thee, Knoing thy abilities and Influence, and Willingness always to promote any useful Science and Knowledge for the use of mankind in General; And if on Consideration of the promises thou Should approve thereof thou mayest Communicate them to the Philosophical Society or any other Set of Gentlemen that Would be Willing or likely to Encourage Such an Undertaking. Perhaps Congress, or Some of the members thereof might promote their Going out with the Surveyers When the Go out to Divide of the Several new States, as there might probable be want of a physician in Company; my afforesaid Nephew being a regularly Bred one, and since have been with me Studying Botiny at Leasure times in Which I think he will Soon be a proficient, And might be able to Give Lectures on the Subject; I Conclude With being fearfull of intruding on thy Patience; With Adding, that I have ordered my Said Nephew to present thee with one of my Catalogues of the forrest trees and Shrubs of our thirteen United States, Which I hope thou’l Except of and Excuse any Errors and imperfections thou may observe therein. Belive me to be thy old and much Obliged Corrispondant and friend, and a well wisher to Every usefull Science