558 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1867, 



TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 



July 6, 1867. 



. . . Well, I have been free from much college work 

 for ten days, and am quite free after Wednesday 

 morning. 



I seem as well as possible, bright and clear, and 

 should be content just to visit my old mother and come 

 right back to work on Calif ornian plants, which I have 

 been looking at for a few days. But my wife says I 

 shall take four weeks, and on being weighed I find 

 that my former 140-143 Ibs. is reduced to 131. 



So I must waste time and money in traveling, which 

 I am reconciled to, as Mrs. Gray needs it much. 



From Oneida County, New York, I am going 

 (with Mrs. G.) to drive into northwest and central 

 Pennsylvania and then visit a sister in Michigan. Mrs. 

 Gray insists that we must go to Chicago, which she 

 wishes to see, though I do not. I hate towns, especially 

 new ones. Only think how near I shall be to 

 you ! 



So you saw old Bigelow, who is quite delighted 

 with Shaw's grounds, etc. 



Torrey has just made me a little visit. Good, kind 

 soul he is. ... 



August 15. 



We got home three days ago. Hot weather broke 

 down my wife's courage, as I feared, and we went no 

 farther west than Tecumseh, Michigan ; made a short 

 visit to Sullivant at Columbus, then meandered through 

 west and north of Pennsylvania to central New York 

 again, and hearing of Mrs. Gray's father's illness 

 came rapidly home. . . . 



I am very well ; have put on three pounds' weight. 



