558 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1867, 
TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 
July 6, 1867. 
... Well, I have been free from much college work 
for ten days, and am quite free after Wednesday 
morning. 
I seem as well as possible, bright and clear, and 
should be content just to visit my old mother and come 
right back to work on Californian plants, which I have 
been looking at for a few days. But my wife says I 
shall take four weeks, and on being weighed I find 
that my former 140-143 lbs, is reduced to 131. 
So I must waste time and money in traveling, which 
I am reconciled to, as Mrs. Gray needs it much. 
From Oneida County, New York, I am going 
(with Mrs. G.) to drive into northwest and central 
Pennsylvania and then visit a sister in Michigan. Mrs. 
Gray insists that we must go to Chicago, which she 
wishes to see, though I do not.’ I hate towns, especially 
new ones. Only think how near I shall be to 
you! 
So you saw old Bigelow, who is quite delighted 
with Shaw’s grounds, ete. 
Torrey has just made me a little visit. Good, kind 
soul he is. . 
August 15. 
We got home three days ago. Hot weather broke 
down my wife’s courage, as I feared, and we went no 
farther west than Tecumseh, Michigan; made a short 
visit to Sullivant at Columbus, then meandered through 
west and north of Pennsylvania to central New York 
again, and hearing of Mrs. Gray’s father’s illness 
came rapidly home. .. . 
I am very well; have put on three pounds’ weight. 
