812 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1887, 
old friend, had died during the summer, and Dr. Gray, 
from his long connection with the institution, was 
much interested in the appointment of his successor. 
He went on in November to Washington to a special 
meeting of the Regents, when Professor Langley was 
appointed; wrote from Washington of the wonderful 
amount he had done in one day, and hurried back ; 
liking always, if he could, to surprise those at home 
by being somewhat earlier than he had promised. He 
began the. Annual Necrology for the ‘ American 
Journal of Science.” ie was already at work on the 
Vitacez for the ‘“ Flora. 
He went in to Boston for the family Thanksgiving 
dinner, though there had seemed some threatening of 
a cold, but he pronounced himself perfectly comforta- 
ble. Still there was a quick breathing and some list- 
lessness, so that he was nursed a little on Friday; 
though he saw Miss Murfree, who had been brought 
by Mrs. Houghton to ask him to settle some question 
about a flower of the Southern Alleghanies, and he 
entered into the matter with all his old life and eager- 
ness. That evening he had two slight chills, so that 
the doctor was summoned the next day, and fearing 
some chest trouble, as he seemed threatened with one 
of his bronchial attacks, advised him to keep in bed. 
On Sunday his pulse and temperature had improved 
so much that he was allowed to get up and go down 
stairs at noon, the doctor congratulating him on the 
success of the treatment. There seemed a weakness 
of the right hand, which, however, passed away, and 
he wrote that evening the letter to Dr. Britton, which 
follows, and when ase with for making the 
vw said “it was important and must be wri 
SI o\ nts et a 
