272 FERTILISATION [1862. 



When will peace come ? it is dreadful to think of the desola- 

 tion of large parts of your magnificent country ; and all the 

 speechless misery suffered by many. I hope and think it 

 not unlikely that we English are wrong in concluding that it 

 will take a long time for prosperity to return to you. It is an 

 awful subject to reflect on. . . . 



[Dr. Asa Gray reviewed the book in ' Silliman's Journal,' * 

 where he speaks, in strong terms, of the fascination which 

 it must have for even slightly instructed readers. He made, 

 too, some original observations on an American orchid, and 

 these first-fruits of the subject, sent in MS. or proof sheet 

 to my father, were welcomed by him in a letter (July 23rd) : — 



" Last night, after writing the above, I read the great 

 bundle of notes. Little did I think what I had to read. 

 What admirable observations ! You have distanced me on 

 my own hobby-horse ! I have not had for weeks such a glow 

 of pleasure as your observations gave me." 



The next letter refers to the publication of the review :] 



C. Darwin to Asa Gray. 



Down, July 28, [1862]. 



My dear Gray, — I hardly know what to thank for first. 

 Your stamps gave infinite satisfaction. I took him f first one 

 lot, and then an hour afterwards another lot. He actually raised 

 himself on one elbow to look at them. It was the first animation 

 he showed. He said only : " You must thank Professor Gray 

 awfully." In the evening after a long silence, there came out 

 the oracular sentence : " He is awfully kind." And indeed you 

 are, overworked as you are, to take so much trouble for our 



* ' Silliman's Journal,' vol. xxiv. same volume, p. 259 ; also, with 



p. 138. Here is given an account other species, in a second notice of 



of the fertilisation of Platanthera the Orchid-book at p. 420. 



Hookeri. P. hyperborea is discussed f One of his boys who was ill. 

 in Dr. Gray's ' Enumeration ' in the 



