^T. 40.] TO A. DE CANDOLLE. 381 



ever. I have passed a very pleasant winter, and have 

 prosecuted my studies to great advantage, though 

 there still remains, alas ! more for me to do than I 

 can hope to accomplish in the time that is still left for 

 me. Your letter was just in time to reach me here ; 

 for we had just decided to go to Paris early next 

 week ; to remain there until the 1st of June, at least. 

 The only drawback is that we thereby lose the society 

 of Mr. and Mrs. Bentham, who mean to come to Lon- 

 don early next month. . . . 



Sir William Hooker is not yet well, though better 

 than he was last winter. I have presented your kind 

 messages, for which he sends best thanks, and is re- 

 joiced to hear of your recovery. Sir William is truly 

 a noble man ; the more intimately you know him the 

 more strongly attached to him you become. . . . 



I had thought it quite likely that we might pass 

 through Geneva again this summer ; but that is not 

 now possible. The sea, however, is not so broad as 

 formerly. Believe me to remain, 



Very faithfully and affectionately yours, 



ASA GRAY. 



In April Dr. and Mrs. Gray went to Paris, where 

 he worked busily through the mornings at the Jardin 

 des Plantes, taking the afternoon for his sight-seeing. 

 He met again his old friends, Jussieu, Decaisne, Gay, 

 etc., and made the acquaintance of M. and Mme. Vil- 

 morin, both most charming and interesting people ; 

 the former distinguished as a horticulturist, and both 

 making investigations for many years on the varieties 

 of strawberries, for which Mme. V. made all the draw- 

 ings. Two separate days were passed at Verrieres, 

 their country home, an old villa belonging formerly 



