604 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1870, 



the printer's hands. I am about to begin another, - 

 a study of another group of North American plants ; 

 but the professional work absorbs so much of my 

 time and energy that it will, I know, make no great 

 progress until July brings a long vacation. And then 

 I may have my hands full, somewhat as yours will be, 

 superintending building. I have my church to enlarge. 

 I need a lecture-room here on the spot, and a students' 

 laboratory in connection with it ; and I have a plan 

 for this, to form a wing to the herbarium building, 

 and a fair prospect that I may get it done. We shall 

 see before long ; and if the means are forthcoming, I 

 will soon let you know, with all the details. . . . 



The last " Spectator ' received gives an abstract of 

 Gladstone's and Forster's Irish Land and Education 

 bills, and of the general favor they were received with 

 upon their introduction. To have almost satisfied all 

 parties and interests is really a wonderfid and a most 

 unexpected achievement. You ought to be proud of 

 Gladstone, and well satisfied at having inevitable and 

 great changes wrought out under so strong a ministry, 

 and so high-minded a leader. Courage, earnestness, 

 and high principle here are seen to command success, 

 in Parliament at least. How anything will work in 

 Ireland remains to be seen. But don't think as some 

 of my English friends do, that the Irish are incapable 

 of good things. The race over here, as a general 

 thing, develop at once what they seem to lack at home, 

 thrift, and with thrift come order and respect for 

 law. 



I happened to be in Boston on St. Patrick's Day, 

 and was stopped in my carriage while a very long Irish 

 procession passed. They were mainly of the more 

 well-to-do sort, no doubt ; but they had made them- 



