32 
M.D., Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army.” This memoir was not 
published until 1828. Before its publication its author, after 
three years’ service, left West Point to assume the chair of 
Chemistry and Botany in the N. Y. College of Physicians and 
Surgeons. This account of Dr. James’s Rocky Mountain plants 1s 
of especial interest as being the first botanical publication of im- 
portance in this country in which the plants were arranged accord- 
ing to the Natural System. Shortly before, the Abbé Correa had 
arranged a list, in which the genera named in Muhlenberg’s cata- 
‘logue were placed according to the system of Jussieu. : ‘ 
In 1831, Lindley’s Introduction to Botany was re-published in 
this country. Dr. Torrey prepared a catalogue of the North 
American genera, arranged according to Lindley’s orders, which 
was published with the work and also separately in the pamphlet 
form. 
Dr. Torrey was always fond of studying obscure and difficult 
orders, hence the Borraginacex, Chenopodiacesw, Amarantacez, 
and Cyperaceew had particular attractions for him. As early 
as 1836 he published in the Amals of the Lyceum his “ Monograph 
of the Cyperacer.” This contained, besides a full account of the 
other genera, a complete revision of the genus Carex. No publica- 
tion by our friend shows better work than this, and it was a most 
valuable contribution to North American botany, as it contained an 
elaboration of the species collected by Drummond, Richardson, 
Burke, and other British collectors, whose specimens were loaned 
by Sir William Hooker. 
The Geological Survey of the State of New York was organ- 
ized in 1836, and Dr. Torrey was appointed as its Botanist. His 
report was published, after many delays and discouragements, mm 
1843. It forms two enormous 4to volumes, filled with detailed 
descriptions of all the plants known to belong to the State, and is 
illustrated with 161 plates. When we consider that this work was 
produced amid the labors of his professorship at the Medical 
_ College, to which had been added those of the Chair of Chemistry 
at Princeton, we must wonder at the untiring industry of its 
author. Whoever was at that time in charge of the survey was 
economical unto meanness, for Dr. Torrey had to buy his own Copy — 
of his own work, During the printing of the work an assistant 0 
the author carefully preserved the revise proofs and put them away 
in regular order. When the Medical College was moved from 
Crosby street, this roll of proof sheets was found, and Dr. Torrey 
gave them to me. Fortunately every page was in its place, an 
now, handsomely bound, it is one of the prized works in my library, 
and is unique as being the only copy in existence “ presented by 
the author.” we 
The first number of the “Flora of North America, by John 
Torrey and Asa Gray,” appeared in 1838, the fruit of a most happy 
association, which continued for over forty years, and which has 
done so much for the advancement of American botany. In re- 
lation to this most important work I can appropriately quote the 
