724 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1881, 



delicious week, with De Caudolle and other friends 

 to enjoy, and a little botany to attend to in the her- 

 barium. And then in one day we went to Paris, and 

 stayed three weeks, while Mrs. Gray did her feminine 

 matters, and I a deal of botany work, and both a little 

 sight-seeing. Thence, sending our luggage before to 

 London, we swung off for Soissons and the old castle 

 of Coucy, and Reims, and Treves, and down the Mo- 

 selle to Coblentz, and the Rhine (that is, by rail) to 

 Cologne, to enjoy the finished cathedral ; thence to 

 Aix la Chapelle, to Bruxelles, and then, with a fine 

 day and smooth water, over to England ; and here at 

 Kew we have been settled ever since, engaging in a 

 deal of botanical work and a deal of society in a 

 most agreeable way, and a little (thus far only a lit- 

 tle) sight-seeing. As we come towards the end, we 

 grow busier every day, and count the time closer. 

 For we expect to return in October, to reach home 

 (Deofavente) either at the end of that month or be- 

 fore the middle of November ; the day and vessel not 

 yet quite fixed. . . . 



There are lots of things to write about, but the 

 sheet is full, and I must only say I am 



Yours affectionately, ASA GKAY. 



TO K. W. CHURCH. 



RICHMOND HOUSE, KEW. 



... It is really serious, this leaving England, and 

 choice friends in it, when one considers that, whatever 

 I may fondly say, I cannot expect to see it again, - 

 I do not say them. 



Affectionately yours, ASA GRAY. 



