DEVELOPMENT OF BOTANY SINCE 1818 449 



Sometimes, however, instead of reviewing a book or an 

 address, he would follow the custom inaugurated early in 

 the history of the Journal, of making copious extracts, 

 and thus give to its readers an opportunity of examining 

 materials which otherwise might not fall in their way. 



Gray's contributions to the Journal comprise more 

 than one thousand titles, without counting the memorial 

 notices and the shorter obituary notes. In these notices 

 he sums up in a few well-chosen words the contributions 

 made to botany by his contemporaries. Even in the few 

 instances in which he felt obliged to note with disap- 

 proval some of the work, he expressed himself with per- 

 sonal friendliness. The necrology, as it appeared from 

 month to month, was a labor of love. All of the longer 

 memorial notices are what it is the fashion now-a-days 

 to call appreciations, and these are so happily phrased 

 that it would seem as if the writer in many a case asked 

 himself, " Would my friend, about whom I am now writ- 

 ing, make any change in this sketch 1 ' ' 



Gray on Darwinism. In October, 1859, Darwin's 

 epoch-making work, "The Origin of Species," was pub- 

 lished. An early copy was sent to the editor of the Jour- 

 nal, Professor James D. Dana. This arrived in New 

 Haven* on December 21, but it was preceded by a personal 

 letter which is of so much interest that it is here tran- 

 scribed in full. It should be added that Dana was at this 

 time in Europe where he was spending a year in the 

 search for health after a serious nervous breakdown. 

 In his absence the book was noticed by Gray as stated 

 below. The letter is, as follows : 



Down, Bromley, Kent. 



Nov. llth, 1859. 



My dear Sir, 



I have sent you a copy of my Book (as yet only an abstract) on 

 the Origin of Species. I know too well that the conclusion, at 

 which I have arrived, will horrify you, but you will, I believe 

 and hope, give me credit for at least an honest search after the 

 truth. I hope that you will read my Book, straight through; 

 otherwise from the great condensation it will be unintelligible. 

 Do not, I pray, think me so presumptuous as to hope to convert 

 you ; but if you can spare time to read it with care, and will then 

 do what is far more important, keep the subject under my point 



