. 74.] TO J. D. HOOKER. 769 



drives up canons, in these fine oaks and plane-trees, 

 occasionally an Acer macrophyllum and an Alder. 

 Avoiding the sea, which gives a short route, we 

 reached San Francisco by a lovely drive, in a hired 

 wagon, over a pass in the Santa Inez Mountains to the 

 coast (south) at Ventura, and so up the broad and 

 long Santa Clara Valley to Newhall, on the Southern 

 Pacific railway, not very far above Los Angeles (two 

 days' drive, most pleasant), then by rail overnight and 

 to this place to breakfast, and on to San Francisco. 



We stopped this time at the Lick House, where we 

 had, European-wise, a room, not quite so good as we 

 had at the Palace Hotel eight years ago, and fed at 

 the restaurant, very nice and reasonable, when we were 

 not visiting or invited out, which was most of the 

 time. So it was not expensive, our room (parlor, bed- 

 room shutting off, and a bathroom) costing only about 

 12 shillings for us both. Harkness looks the same, 

 but older ; is absorbed in f ungology. Here again we 

 were made much of for twelve days, most busy ones. 

 General McDowell, who you remember dined us at 

 the " Palace," is ill ; we saw him twice, and he has 

 since so failed that we daily expect to hear of the end. 



May 4. In Farlie's Chalet hotel in the Grand 

 Canon of the Colorado. 



Dr. Brigham, you remember, who took us to the 

 Chinese theatre, is now married, and has three children 

 by a bright wife, with a rich father, and a handsome 

 house, above Presidio, a fine site, and filled with fine 

 things from all countries, and such a rose-garden ; gave 

 us a handsome dinner. Alvord and wife (president 

 now of Bank of California), noble people, did wonders 

 for us, and a dinner and drives. A lunch over at the 

 university ; and another by General (commanding the 



