552 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1867, 



as much as I want to attend to, and I do my duty 

 to society in looking well after that. . . . 



TO A. DE CAXDOLLE. 



September 10, 1866. 



. . . The war near you was sharp and quick. Swit- 

 zerland is as fortunately placed as any small nation 

 can be, when surrounded by strong ones ; but you see 

 that in this world only strength can be relied on. See 

 what indignity small and weak nations have to suffer. 

 I trust present peace may last to consolidate a new 

 Germany. But if not, you may have to dread a more 

 general upturning on the Continent. 



October 21, 1867. 



. . . Your analysis of the whole subject of rules 

 in nomenclature I think is sound and lawyer-like, or 

 rather judicial, as well as judicious. There are dan- 

 gers and inconveniences on every side, and good sense 

 and discretion are needed in the application of these 

 as of all rules. . . . 



Very faithfully yours, ASA GRAY. 



TO GEORGE BENTHAM. 



January 21, 1867. 



MY DEAR BENTHAM, Many thanks for your 

 kind remembrance of us in your letter at the end of 

 the year, which reached me only three or four days 

 ago. I avail myself of the first foreign post since to 

 return, with Mrs. Gray's love, our heartiest good 

 wishes to Mrs. Bentham and yourself, and I trust you 

 will be able to keep up yet, for a good many precious 

 years, the steady botanical work which you make so 

 telling. . . . 



