604. TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1870, 
the printer’s hands. I am about to begin another, — 
a study of another group of North American plants ; 
but the professional work absorbs so much of my 
time and energy that it will, I know, make no great 
progress until July brings a long vacation. And then 
I may have my hands full, somewhat as yours will be, 
superintending building. I have my church to enlarge. 
T need a lecture-room here on the spot, and a students’ 
laboratory in connection with it; and I have a plan 
for this, to form a wing to the herbarium building, 
and a fair prospect that I may get it done. We shall 
see before long; and if the means are forthcoming, I 
will soon let you know, with all the details. . . 
The last “ Spectator” received gives an ghatvdet of 
Gladstone’s and Forster’s Irish Land and Education 
bills, and of the general favor they were received with 
upon their introduction. To have almost satisfied all 
parties and interests is really a wonderful and a most 
unexpected achievement. You ought to be proud of 
Gladstone, and well satisfied at having inevitable and 
great changes wrought out under so strong a ministry, 
and so high-minded a leader. Courage, earnestness, 
and high principle here are seen to command success, 
in Parliament at least. How anything will work in 
Ireland remains to be seen. But don’t think as some 
of my English friends do, that the Irish are incapable 
of good things. The race over here, as a general 
thing, develop at once what they seem to lack at home, 
ift, and with thrift come order and respect for 
W. 
I happened to be in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day, 
and was stopped in my carriage while a very long Irish 
procession passed. They were mainly of the more 
well-to-do sort, no doubt; but they had made them- 
