CURRENT LITERATURE. 
The Letters of Asa Gray.* 
Most of Dr. Gray’s personal friends have known that his letters were 
being edited by his wife, and they have looked forward, with keen an- 
ticipation, to the appearance of the volumes which are before us. Nor 
will his most ardent lovers (for that phrase alone fitly names those 
who came to know him intimately) be disappointed in this collection. 
unless by its unavoidable fragmentariness. In his busier years the 
letters he wrote were necessarily largely scientific or of purely personal 
interest, but ithas been Mrs. Gray’s endeavor “in collecting and arrang- 
ing the ‘Letters’ from Dr. Gray’s large correspondence, to show, as far 
as possible in his own words, his life and his occupation.” “Something 
of the personality of the man and his many interests may be learned 
from these familiar letters and from even the slight notes.” 
We can only wish that they might reveal fully his character and per 
sonality to those who were never privileged to come under its charm, 
but if only “something” of it is shown, the thousands who know his 
name will be interested in gaining these glimpses at the life of a rarely 
lovable man. 
The autobiography which Dr. Gray began, and from which the 
sketch of his early years published with a portrait in this journal (11: 
1. 1887) was chiefly drawn, forms the first chapter. His early under 
takings are detailed mostly in letters to Dr. and Mrs. Torrey and his 
father and mother, with a few to Dr. W. J. Hooker. These give 4” 
account of his studies while teaching at Utica and Hamilton colleg® 
of his life in New York with the family of Dr.and Mrs. Torrey, Whi 
Was a potent influence for good, of his relations to the South Sea Ex 
ploring Expedition and to Michigan University. The third chaptet 
Consists of extracts from a very detailed and intensely interesting 
journal of his first visit to Europe, where he made many life-long 
friends. The fresh and vivacious sketches of men and things, the 
racy comments, the epigrammatic skits hold the attention of the readet 
and, before his friends, the man lives again. The remainder of the 
volume tells of his work from 1840-1850. 
The second volume is devoted to mo ] dence which 
'S Srouped almost by decades under the ‘titles, second journey to Eu: 
Tope, letters to Darwin and others, travel in Europe and America, 4 
final journeys and work, 
‘Letters of Asa Gra i : 8 vo. PP 
Y, edited by Jane Loring G . 2 vols. crown 
838. pl. 6. Boston: Houghton, Mittin & Co. thos. “$a.c0, 
