170 SOME AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANISTS 



of the earlier orders, manifesting the catholicity 

 of spirit of a real genius. The great desideratum 

 was to get a big and useful work through, and 

 Torrey welcomed the help, though he nearly lost 

 it, for Gray had been appointed in 1836 botanist 

 to a South Pacific Exploration. However, there 

 were so many " alarums and excursions," such 

 endless delays, that the explorers did not sail 

 until 1838, and meanwhile Gray had accepted 

 the professorship of Botany in the University of 

 Michigan and continued helping Torrey, who, 

 quick to appreciate Gray's value, asked him to 

 be joint author. The first part was issued in 

 July, the second in October, 1838, at their joint 

 expense, Gray paying his with the salary received 

 while waiting orders for the South Pacific voy- 

 age. That same year inclination and circum- 

 stances jumped together. It was quite clear that 

 he could not " profess " anything in a University 

 which had no building, and equally clear that 

 not enough was known of the original sources 

 of information to work up the North American 

 flora properly. Michigan University wanted 

 books for a general library. Torrey and Gray 

 equally wanted much information from Europe. 

 Michigan behaved generously and gave Gray a 

 year's leave, with $1,500 as salary and $5,000 to 

 spend on books in Europe. 



