368 A DECADE OF WORK AT HOME. [1850, 



England, and in the mean time we heard not only of 

 Dr. Hooker's capture, but also, with much gratifica- 

 tion, of his release. What an indefatigable man he is ! 



Finding myself greatly behindhand, on account of 

 various hindrances and miscalculation of time, and 

 utterly unable to accomplish half the work I had in- 

 tended to do this spring, I have decided to break off ; 

 and to sail, in a packet-ship from Boston, on the 

 5th of June, with Mrs. Gray, for Liverpool, which we 

 may hope to reach by the close of that month. This 

 will give us an opportunity of seeing England in its 

 summer dress, and to make, almost immediately fol- 

 lowing the sea voyage, a trip up the Rhine to Switzer- 

 land. On our return I must set to work diligently, 

 and for a little while with Mr. Bentham, who has 

 kindly offered to look over the tropical collections, 

 which I know little of, and love as little. 



The rewriting of all the structural parts of my 3d 

 edition of the " Botanical Text-Book," which I was 

 inadvertently drawn into, has proved a most time- 

 consuming business. It is not yet through the press. 



Wright's collection of seeds I had divided into two 

 parts, and I send you one by the hands of Mr. Lowell, 

 who with his whole family goes out by this steamer. 

 You will receive them in good time to raise them. . . . 



Mr. Lowell is of great use to us, in helping on 

 these explorations, and I look to his visit to Europe, 

 the sight of the great collections, and the society of 

 naturalists to strengthen his tastes and fire his zeal 

 in these respects. 



I long to have him and Mrs. Lowell, a very good 

 friend of ours, make your acquaintance. 



