xT. 76.] TO J. D. HOOKER. 791 
CAMBRIDGE, January 25, 1887. 
... Yes, it has seemed to me clear that you could 
not cross the Atlantic at present. And so it logically 
follows that we must. 3 
I had been coming to this conclusion, and only the 
day before your letter arrived my good wife and I 
had put our heads together and concluded that, if 
nothing occurred meanwhile to prevent, we would 
cross over, say in April. It is time we set about it, 
if we are ever to do it; and several things seem to 
indicate that this is a more favorable time than we 
can expect later. 
As this will be “ positively Dr. Gray’s last appear- 
ance on your shores,” we must make the most of it. 
Shall we have a Continental jaunt together, or shall 
you be too much tied to home? 
Meanwhile I must work hard and steadily. . . . 
S you “weed out” surplus of herbarium Kew, 
keep them for me. When I come I will take care of 
them. It is (as usual) good of you to think of us. 
You have done so for so long a time that it is only 
“second nature” — very good nature too. 
Williamson, plant-fossil, long ago begged us to 
come to British Association at Manchester, and be his 
guests. If I do, what think you of my preparing a 
paper for Botanical Section; and will you join me in 
it? two venerables — anglice old fogies — on Nomen- 
clature and Citations. 
There are some points I should like to argue out 
and explain ; to put on record, though it may be of 
no use. Not that one wants to get up a discussion in 
such a body — that would never do. . . . 
