*rr. 34.] TO JOHN TORRE Y. 333 



points that other writers appear to have overlooked, 

 I should be able to produce, in the " North American 

 Review," a much more important article and a 

 worthier tribute to the memory of one so revered on 

 this side of the Atlantic as well as in Europe. May 

 I hope you will favor me in this respect ? 



Many thanks for the botanical news. I long to be 

 delivered from the pressure of the engagements that 

 have consumed so much of my time for the last year 

 or two, and finish the " Flora of North America." 



I remain, ever, my dear friend, faithfully yours, 



A. GRAY. 



TO JOHN TORREY. 



August, 1845. 



The new post-office law is an excellent thing, as it 

 enables us to exchange our missives frequently, to 

 send little pieces of news, and ask and answer ques- 

 tions without waiting for time and matter to fill up a 

 formal letter. 



I must tell you a little change made in my sanctum 

 here. You are to imagine me writing at a sort of 

 bureau-escritoire (standing under Robert Brown's pic- 

 ture), which I fortunately picked up the other day for 

 $10. It is of old dark *wood a century old, and con- 

 tains below four drawers, while the upper part, which 

 opens into a fine writing-table, has eight pigeon-holes, 

 six drawers, and a little special lock-up with several 

 drawers and pigeon-holes more. You know I like 

 any quantity of these stowaway places. I have sent 

 upstairs the table which stood in its place, and brought 

 down the round one, so that I have more room than 

 before. 



