JOHN TORREY 143 



smile as he glanced at the question asked: " Is 

 not formic acid an ant-acid? ' He at once dis- 

 missed the class amid shouts of laughter, remark- 

 ing that he was not prepared to give an imme- 

 diate answer, but they should have the rest of 

 the hour to themselves. 



" His faith in the Holy Scriptures found a 

 firm foundation in the study of nature. The 

 God of the one was the God of the other. If 

 there were difficulties, he knew, if not immedi- 

 ately, they would in time be reconciled. The 

 more closely they were studied, the more posi- 

 tive would be the mutual confirmation.' 5 



The character of Torrey is best depicted in 

 the influence he exercised over Asa Gray when 

 the latter came to live with the Torrey family. 

 Mrs. Torrey was also a woman of rare character 

 and intellect, and devoutly religious. When 

 Gray became one of the family, " the difference 

 in the life, the contrast in the way of meeting 

 trial and sorrow," as compared with his own 

 family, " struck him forcibly, and the religious 

 side of his nature was aroused and a serious 

 interest awakened." 



Torrey died on March 10, 1873, at his house 

 in Columbia College, and Gray, writing to De 

 Candolle that summer, says: 



11 Letters of Asa Gray. 

 12 



