271 
An Extract from the Diary of Prof. J. W. Bailey.” 
WEsv? PoINT, May 21st, 1835. 
Be this day ever remembered! for on it I first became ac- 
quainted with a scientific botanist, and he, too, the first in America; 
in short no less a person than the distinguished Dr. John Torrey, 
of New York. I was introduced to him at the hotel by Lieut. 
Mather. I was much surprised to find him so young a man. 
After conversing awhile he proposed a botanical excursion, and 
we proceeded down the hill behind the hotel, collecting Coryda- 
lis aurea, Cardamine Virginica, Celtis occidentalis, etc.; we were, 
however, soon driven in by the rain. We adjourned to my room, 
where we held a conversation on botany, which to me was highly 
interesting. He says that the plant called Gaultheria hispida is 
no Gaultheria, but a new genus having the fruit of an Oxycoccus 
and flower of Vaccinium. (This refers to Chiogenes hispidula, T. 
& G. It was called Gaultheria hispidula by Muhl., W. W. B.) 
He mentioned some anecdotes of Prof. Lindley ; among others, 
the fact that the “ Outline of the First Principles of Botany ” was 
wholly written on his journey to and from his residence, about 
six miles from London. When the stage stopped at an inn, 
Lindley would write on a scrap of paper a sentence or two of the 
work, using his hat as a desk. This was but one instance of the 
Constant devotion and industry of the professor. 
May 22d, 18 35.—This day being very fine, Dr. Torrey and 
myself made a short botanical excursion among the rocks (from 
the hotel around to Kosciusko’s Garden). He pointed out the 
Lycopodium _ (Ina note after Lycopodium rupestre 
in my father’s copy of Bigelow’s ‘‘ Plants of Boston,”’ he naye 
“West Point, May 22d, 1835, pointed out to me by Dr. Torrey. 
This fixes the plant as Selaginella rupestres, Spring., W. W. B.) 
Thad not noticed it before. He also stated that he had found 
Taxus somewhere near Gee's Point. (The extreme or lighthouse 
end of West Point, W. W. B.) He related to me a Curious and 
dangerous adventure that once happened to him. In — 
with a friend of his, during one of his journeys, he had attempt 
to follow a mountain path which had not been travelled upon SIRE 
*Communicated by Prof. W. W. Bailey. 
ag 
