^T. 59.] TO CHARLES DARWIN. 599 



landing yesterday morning [Monday] early, on the 

 thirteenth day. Very well for that vessel, the slowest 

 of the line, am' at this season, with much head wind. 

 No gales, but some stiff breezes, and the vessel tum- 

 bled and rolled about, to our discomfort. However, it 

 is all over; and Mrs. G. and the other ladies, who 

 suffered a good deal, are looking brighter again. 



My wife sends kind love to you and all yours, and 

 the young people, if they knew of my writing, would 

 send kind and grateful messages. The voyage now 

 seems to me only as a disturbed night's sleep, dozing 

 off in Old England to awake in the New. 



Ever yours affectionately, A. GRAY. 



TO CHARLES DARWIN. 



CAMBRIDGE, February 14, 1870. 



MY DEAR DARWIN, Being eve of post-day we 

 respond at once to yours of the 27th January which 

 arrived this very morning lest you should send us 

 down to posterity with a fabulous dog-story. 



I well remember telling you of our " Max " 1 and 

 his habit of washing cat-fashion ; which you suggested 

 might have come from being brought up with a cat, 

 and I think I told you that I had not been able to 

 learn definitely whether that was the case or no. Here, 

 you see, by some shuffling of memory, a suggestion of 

 what might explain a fact has taken the place of the 

 fact itself. I am curious to know if it be true, for it 

 is the only explanation I can think of. 



I trust you have some of the slender-leaved Drosera 

 I sent through Hooker. 



Well, our homeward voyage was not a nice one, 



1 Dr. Gray's black and tan terrier, his loving companion for twelve 

 years. 



