ET. 61.] TO A. DE CANDOLLE. 625 
nominally devolve other university work in part upon 
an assistant, surrendering at the same time a part of 
my salary, hoping thereby to purchase time. We shall 
see if it be possible. But I have to begin with a new 
assistant, who will need training; but will then, I 
hope, take much off my hands. My youthful assistant 
of the past two years goes in a week or two to Europe, 
-to study in some German university for a year or 
two; to Strasburg, I think, unless he first should go 
to Sweden, and there study Algw, with Agardh, if he 
will receive him. He takes a fancy to lower Crypto- 
gamia. His name is Farlow, an honest, good fellow. 
He will most likely be in Switzerland in the summer ; 
and I shall give him a letter of introduction to you, 
whom he will wish to know. But take no trouble on 
his account, except to introduce him to Dr. Miller, 
from whom, as a working lichenologist, he could learn 
much. 
Well, Mrs. Gray and I are going to set out, two 
weeks hence, for California. We both need the change, 
and are curious to see the country, having never seen 
even the Mississippi! The scientific meeting was to 
have been held there; but there is now a hitch about 
it. We go, however, at all events, and expect to pass 
a month in the Yosemite Valley, and elsewhere in the 
mountain region. I wish you were here to go with us. 
Hooker was counted on to go with us; but the very 
bad state of his mother’s (Lady Hooker) health, and 
the state of affairs at Kew prevent it 
I hope soon to receive your “ Midlavigce historiquen:” 
which are sure to interest me. If I can I will write 
you a long letter from California, or Utah, or the 
Rocky Mountains! —more interesting than this scrawl 
from yours ever, Asa GRAY. 
