568 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1868, 



trees growing which you have in Cuba, etc., Parkin- 

 sonia, Schinus molle, Carob, etc. Off up the Nile to- 

 morrow. . . . 



In brief, I want to retain you permanently as my 

 fidus Achates. You are to have supreme control of 

 the Garden. When I get home we will see what can 

 be done. You will have to cut off Cuba till then, but 

 can work at Flora Cubensis a good deal of the time. 

 As far as my means can go, you shall be made as com- 

 fortable as possible. . . . 



Arrangements were made to have H. sweep and 

 keep clean the herbarium, and Mrs. L. to scrub when 

 needed. I fear the herbarium may have been left to 

 get dusty and untidy. Please take it in hand ; ask L. 

 as to getting H., or some one, to sweep regularly ; let 

 no dusty work that can be helped be done in the large 

 herbarium room. Keep coal-ashes dust from the fire 

 from getting in, etc. Spare no expense and pains to 

 keep down dust and dirt. . . . 



As to dampness in herbarium, look out according 

 to your judgment. Air occasionally by leaving open 

 doors of cabinets when a good fire is on, or a dry 

 day out. The north corner of the herbarium is the 

 only place that dampness gathers in, except the shelves 

 next the floors. Well, do the best you can. Good- 

 by. . . . 



TO JOHN TORREY. 



ON BOARD THE STEAMER POONAH, 



MARSEILLES HARBOR, December 5, 1868. 



We started from Paris a few days before the rest, 

 and before Charles Loring had arrived. We changed 

 the cold north for the bland south in one night, going 

 from Paris to Avignon, where I had the pleasure of 

 showing J. olive groves, old walled towns, and all sorts 



