710 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1880, 
one presented to me on our arrival here in October. 
But in the south of Spain my throat was as clear 
as a whistle. We are not bad just now, and are 
hopeful. 
I was perfectly sincere in writing that I should pre- 
fer returning to Kew for two or three months and to 
reserve Italy for the early spring. I shall get more 
work out of it so. At the same time I was confident 
that it would suit you best, and I am glad that you 
jump at it. It may enable us to get off the fag end. 
(and best part) of Hayden’s report, if ever he sends 
over the portion in type. I am surprised that it has 
not before this come to hand. 
TO MISS A. A. GRAY. 
Horet St. Romar, Paris, December 3, 1880. 
My pear A.,—I cannot tell you how much I was 
touched by your letter of the 18th of November, fol- 
lowing the round-robin, the letter of Mrs. J. and 
that of Charley. And what could have possessed my 
brothers and sisters, and nieces, and “ their cousins and 
your aunts” to club together a contribution on the 
occasion, as if nobody in the family had ever got to 
have a seyentieth birthday, or ever expected to! 
Well, it was indeed truly good and thoughtful of you 
all, and it gratified me beyond measure. As you 
were the organ of the family, upon the occasion, let 
me ask you to be the medium for conveying to one 
and all my acknowledgments and most hearty thanks 
for their words and deeds and kind thoughts of me at 
this interesting time. 
And now what I am to do with the presents that 
