724 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1881, 



delicious week, with De Caiidolle and other friends 

 to enjoy, and a little botany to attend to in the her- 

 barium. And then in one day we went to Paris, and 

 stayed three weeks, while Mrs. Gray did her feminine 

 matters, and I a deal of botany work, and both a little 

 sight-seeing. Thence, sending our luggage before to 

 London, we swung off for Soissons and the old castle 

 of Coucy, and Reims, and Treves, and down the Mo- 

 selle to Coblentz, and the Rhine (that is, by rail) to 

 Cologne, to enjoy the finished cathedral ; thence to 

 Aix la Chapelle, to Bruxelles, and then, with a fine 

 day and smooth water, over to England ; and here at 

 Kew we have been settled ever since, engaging in a 

 deal of botanical work and a deal of society in a 

 most agreeable way, and a little (thus far only a lit- 

 tle) sight-seeing. As we come towards the end, we 

 grow busier every day, and count the time closer. 

 For we expect to return in October, to reach home 

 (^Deofavente) either at the end of that month or be- 

 fore the middle of November ; the day and vessel not 

 yet quite fixed. . . . 



There are lots of things to write about, but the 

 sheet is full, and I must only say I am 



Yours affectionately, ASA GRAY. 



TO B. W. CHURCH. 



RICHMOND HOUSE, KEW. 



... It is really serious, this leaving England, and 

 choice friends in it, when one considers that, whatever 

 I may fondly say, I cannot expect to see it again, 

 I do not say them. 



Affectionately yours, ASA GRAY. 



