zr. 40.] TO A. DE CANDOLLE. 381 
ever. I have passed a very pleasant winter, and have 
prosecuted my studies to great advantage, though 
there still remains, alas! more for me to do than I 
can hope to accomplish in the time that is still left for 
me. Your letter was just in time to reach me here ; 
for we had just decided to go to Paris early next 
week ; to remain there until the Ist of June, at least. 
The only drawback is that we thereby lose the society 
of Mr. and Mrs. car who mean to come to Lon- 
don early next month. 
Sir William Becket 3 is saat yet well, though better 
than he was last winter. I have presented your kind 
messages, for which he sends best thanks, and is re- 
joiced to hear of your recovery. Sir William is truly 
a noble man; the more intimately you know him the 
more strongly attached to him you become. . . 
I had thought it quite likely that we cial pass 
through Gesaes again this summer; but ‘halt is not 
now possible. The sea, however, is not so broad as 
formerly. Believe me to remain, 
Very faithfully and affectionately yours, 
sa GRAY. 
In April Dr. and Mrs. Gray went to Paris, where 
he worked busily through the mornings at the Jardin 
des Plantes, taking the afternoon for his sight-seeing. 
He met again his old friends, Jussieu, Decaisne, Gay, 
ete., and made the acquaintance of M. and Mme. Vil- 
morin, both most charming and interesting people ; 
the former distinguished as a horticulturist, and both 
making investigations for many years on the varieties 
of strawberries, for which Mme. VY. made all the draw- 
ings. Two separate days were passed at Verriéres, 
their country home, an old villa belonging formerly 
