JOHN TORREY 143 



smile as he glanced at the question asked : " Is 

 not formic acid an 0w/-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." 



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." 11 



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. 



