Includes: From John. A. Washington, nephew of George Washington, written from Mount Vernon, about a "Chinese Alenthus [i.e. Ailanthus] or Tree of Heaven." 12 March 1831. * From John A Quitman, governor of and representative from Mississippi, and general in Mexican-America War, responding to request for an autograph. Dec. 21, 1856. * From Henry A.S. Dearborn, physician, statesman and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812,about French cherries. Sept. 1831. * Clipped signature of Thomas Gage, British commander in chief during Revolutionary War. * Clipped signature of William L. Dayton, ran as Fremont's vice president in 1856. * Portion of envelope signed by Thomas J. Rusk, signed of Texas Declaration of Independence, along with Sam Houston one of the first two Texas U.S. Senators. * Three letters from Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, one of them discussing the "plan of organization of the Smithsonian Institution..." 1847 & 1856. * From Horatio Seymour, governor of New York and presidential candidate, a letter of introduction. Neatly affixed to backing sheets at edge, with writers' names decoratively lettered in ink on the sheet.

Most of the letters are to William R. Prince, horticulturalist. Provenance: L. Bradford Prince, Governor of New Mexico Territory.