35 
stirveys were published at intervals from 1855 to 1860, and then 
not in the order in which they were written. i 
Enumerating them as they occur in the volumes, we find in 
Vol. II: The Botany of Pope’s, Beckwith’s and Gunnison’s expedi- 
tions, three comparatively brief memoirs in which Dr, Gray’s name 
is mentioned as joint author. 
Vol. IV: “Botany of Whipple’s Expedition,” the most import- 
ant of all these Railroad surveys in botanical results. 
Vol. V: “ Botany of Lieut. Williamson’s Report.” 
Vol. VIII: “ Botany of Lieut. Parke’s Expedition.” 
In other volumes of the railroad surveys are botanical reports 
by Newbury, Durand and others, to each of which Dr, Torrey 
ohh hei important materials, in many cases working up whole 
rders, : ~ 
1861. The Report of Lieut. Ives’ Exploration of the Colorado 
was published with a Botanical Appendix, mainly by Dr. Torrey. 
. The Report upon the Botany of the Mexican Boundary was pub- 
lished in 1859, the most voluminous, as it is the most important, of 
all these contributions to the botany of the far West. The survey 
Was, on account of various changes, prolonged over a period of five 
' years or more; it passed over a vast territory, which, for the most 
Part was botanically new. Parry, Wright, Bigelow, Schott and 
your President all contributed their collections to make up this 
exceedingly valuable report, one which may fitly close the record 
of Dr. Torrey’s more important contributions to science. 
After the Report of the Botany of the Mexican Boundary was 
completed, Dr. Torrey made an arrangement to transfer his in- 
valuable herbarium and his library to Columbia College, and they 
were placed in the rooms in which we now meet. I say invaluable 
erbarium, as no other collection contains so many typical speci- 
mens from which the original descriptions were drawn as does this. 
It is possible that the Corporation of the College is not aware of the 
priceless value of the treasure committed to its charge, else it would 
not long remain in its present unsafe position. Whenever I read 2 _ 
report of a fire in this quarter of the city, I fear for the safety of 
this herbarium. If any word of mine would impress the trustees 
of the College with the importance of the trust they have ac- 
cepted, the herbarium would not long remain, as it 1s now, 
in an unsafe building. A library may be in time replaced, 
but no money can restore the specimens collected by our early » 
explorers. When the herbarium was transferred to its present 
quarters it needed re-arrangement. Specimens had accumulated 
More rapidly than they could be disposed of, and all those collected 
by the recent expeditions had to be incorporated with the general 
herbarium. For several years succeeding the publication of the 
Report of the Mexican Boundary, Dr. Torrey was employed in 
herbarium work. No hand but his could properly perform this 
Scientific drudgery, and he went at it with a perseverance that in : 
time brought it to completion. ‘aig 
' During hes years of herbariam work, necessary though irk- 
. 
