514 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1863, 



of what it was incumbent on the government to do ; 

 and nothing can be more satisfactory than the views 

 now taken ; and the effect here is excellent. For we 

 are sure that when the right notions once get a lodg- 

 ment, as they have, England will faithfully carry them 

 through. Lawyers whom I knew here were confident 

 how the law would ultimately be laid down by your 

 courts ; but we greatly feared it would be done only 

 after a few more such vessels had got to sea. All 

 will go well now. 



The newspaper I occasionally send you is a fair 

 specimen of the influential part of the press here. 

 Such articles as the " Times " likes to cite have far 

 less effect here than you suppose in the determination 

 of events. 



TO GEORGE ENGELMAKJST. 



CAMBRIDGE, December 11, 1863. 



MY DEAR ENGELMANN, Our good old friend Von 

 Martius writes me that on the 30th March next, he 

 will reach his fiftieth anniversary of his doctorate. I 

 dare say his friends will commemorate it in Germany. 

 It occurs to me that it would be a good idea for some 

 of us, his friends and correspondents, to compliment 

 him upon the occasion. Suppose you draw up in Ger- 

 man a letter of congratulation, etc., to be signed by 

 yourself, Torrey, Sullivant, etc., and forward about 

 the proper time. Send me, with your German circu- 

 lar letter to Martius, a translation in English. . . . 



Yes, I will let you work at botany when I guard 

 you'. 1 Your botanical work is far better than your 

 politics. But you must swear the President's oath, 

 Proclamation and all ! ! 



1 Dr. Gray enlisted and drilled with a company raised for service in 

 Massachuse tts. 



