. 70.] TO J. D. HOOKER. 707 



TO J. D. HOOKER. 

 HOTEL ST. ROMALN, PARIS, November 14, 1880. 



Here we are back at Paris (since twenty hours), 

 and, this being Sunday, having discharged my reli- 

 gious duty and ventilated my patriotism by going in 

 the morning to the American Chapel I am going to 

 discharge upon you a missive which may be of some 

 size, - - is sure to be so if I open all my mind. Whence 

 did I write you last? Malaga, I fancy, where I re- 

 ceived a letter from you . . . which tells us of the 

 conflagration of Charlie's dog and cat, and the narrow 

 escape of the owner, of horrid weather, while we have 

 had only one rainy day, and that no great impediment 

 (though I did have to examine the Botanic Garden 

 at Valencia under an umbrella and in india-rub- 

 bers). . . . 



A good day was occupied in going to Cordova, and 

 the next morning did the Mosque-Cathedral, which I 

 expected to be disappointing, yet it was not. After- 

 noon began the long journey which there was no 

 escaping, northeast to Valencia : a dull place made 

 duller by rain. Next afternoon to Tarragona, and a 

 most charming day in that interesting old town and 

 its environs, the evening taking us on to Barcelona, of 

 less interest. The next day's travel, long and delight- 

 ful, was all by daylight, except the last hour. It took 

 us along either beautiful or picturesque country, much 

 of the way with the Mediterranean on one side and 

 the Pyrenees on the other, out of Spain and as far as 

 Narbonne. A day's excursion was given to Carcas- 

 sonne ; perfect, and stranded on the shore of time, an 

 excellent example of a Middle Age fortified city, 

 cathedral and all ; Visigoth walls and towers on 



