MT.32.] TO MRS. TORREY. 305 



TO GEORGE ENGELMANJST. 



CAMBRIDGE, 22d June, 1843. 



When you get sufficient collections from any of 

 these botanists for distribution, you will please forward 

 me a set, with your own critical remarks. Although 

 I excessively dislike to study special collections far 

 ahead of my work, yet in these cases it will be impor- 

 tant, and I will consent to do it. If I thus join in 

 the responsibility and labor, which will be great to a 

 person with his hands so full as mine, the articles 

 written on the subject and the new species must bear 

 our joint names. 



You cannot have failed to perceive that the genus 

 Astragalus is not well done in the " Flora." . . . 



I agree with you generally in the impropriety of 

 too much multiplying names of species after the col- 

 lectors, etc., yet I think these are good names, easily 

 remembered, and particularly advisable in very large 

 genera. My practical rule is to name such species 

 after the discoverer, etc., if I cannot find any really 

 pertinent characteristic name unoccupied. . . . 



There is much to be done, and so little time that I 

 often wish I could divide myself into a dozen men, 

 and thus get on faster. Let us, however, take partic- 

 ular pains to do everything thoroughly as far as we go. 



TO MRS. TORRET. 



CAMBRIDGE, July 22, 1843. 



I find Cambridge, in vacation, as quiet as possible, 

 most people away. The president's family were 

 at home, and unaffectedly glad to see me ; but several 

 of them, including Miss Susan, who makes drawings 

 for me, are about to set out on Monday for Lake 

 Champlain, Montreal, and Quebec ; to be absent 



