RT, 22.) TO JOHN TORREY. 41 
obtain. It set alcohol, ether, spirits of turpentine, 
ete., on fire. I did not try it upon phosphorus. Shall 
prepare it again in a few weeks for class experiments. 
I am, Sir, Yours respectfully, 
A. Gray. 
Urica, March 22, 1834. 
I thankfully acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of the Ist inst., and am delighted to learn that you 
contemplate giving a course of botanical lectures be- 
fore you leave the city. I hope the plan will succeed, 
and that you will have a large and very fashionable 
class. My journey was as tedious as rain and bad 
roads could make it. The first night, being alone in 
the coach, I was upset by the carelessness of a drunk- 
en driver. The top of the coach, striking against a 
stone wall, was broken in; but I escaped, narrowly in- 
deed, without any injury excepting a few rents in m 
clothes. At the end of the route, I had the satisfac- 
tion of seeing the driver dismissed from his employ- 
ment. On my arrival at Bridgewater I found a child 
of my friend and former medical preceptor,’ a favorite 
little daughter, dangerously, almost hopelessly sick 
with inflammation of the brain. I was consequently 
detained several days, and before I left had the satis- 
faction of seeing the little patient convalescent. I 
am now in fine working order and busily engaged in 
my chemical course. 
Dr. Hadley called upon me yesterday and I gave 
him the little “notions” you sent by me. He 
was much pleased, but was especially delighted with 
the condensed sulphurous and anhydrous sulphuric 
acids. 
1 Dr. Trowbridge. 
