ASA GRAY 215 



imagine that his bright, cheery spirit carried him through these 

 uncertain years in the hope that some opportunity would present 

 itself. It was in the midst of this period, December, 1834, that he 

 read his first paper before the New York Lyceum of Natural 

 History; and it showed that the young botanist did not flinch 

 before the most difficult groups of plants, for it was a monograph 

 of North American Rhynchosporeae, a group of sedges. 



Dr. Torrey became so much impressed with his ability that in 

 1835 he invited him to become his assistant; but the offer was with- 

 drawn later on account of the poor outlook for paying his salary, 

 which doubtless was to have been meager enough. To young Gray 

 this must have been a keen disappointment, for it seemed to shut 

 the door of a great opportunity. It would have seemed to most 

 men that botany should be abandoned as a means of living and 

 serious attention given to establishment in some recognized pro- 

 fession. But Gray returned to his father's house and spent the 

 year in preparing his Elements of Botany, which was published in 

 May, 1836, and was the first of that remarkable series of text- 

 books which for many years dominated botanical instruction in 

 the United States, and which are marvels of clear, masterful 

 presentation. 



In 1836, through the influence of Dr. Torrey, Gray was ap- 

 pointed curator of the collections of the New York Lyceum of 

 Natural History, and in its new building he made his home. It 

 may be said that his career as a professional botanist began with 

 this appointment. Although it was to be regarded as only a tempo- 

 rary makeshift, his whole time could now be devoted to his chosen 

 pursuit. About this time an opportunity presented itself to the 

 young botanist that seemed to promise great things. A govern- 

 ment exploring expedition in the South Pacific was being organized, 

 and Gray secured appointment as botanist. But there were vexa- 

 tious delays and changes in organization, and it was not until 1838 

 that the expedition finally sailed, under command of Captain 

 Wilkes. It is useless to imagine what would have been the result 

 of Gray's personal study of the regions visited by this expedition; 

 but from his subsequent contributions it is safe to assume it would 



