I oe ees ee 
ET. 27.] TO JOHN F. TROWBRIDGE. 65 
three weeks, and it would not surprise me, after what 
I have seen, if we should be kept back longer than 
you expect. Let us once get to sea and you will not 
see or hear of so much dilatoriness from us. 
November 10. I was prevented from closing my 
letter last evening by the calling of Professor Henry, 
who has just returned from a visit of nine months to 
France and Great Britain. I have been very much 
engaged all day, and sit down now for a little time, 
hoping to finish a few letters which have been delayed 
too long already. 
December 5. 
I am here yet, and am like to be for a month or so. 
Commander Jones has been sick for two or three 
weeks, and I am sorry to say there seems little proba- 
bility that he will be much better ever. He has a bad 
cough, and raises blood —is of a consumptive habit. 
As he has been growing worse, he this morning left 
for Philadelphia, on his way home. It is thus most 
probable that we shall have a new commander, and a 
considerable delay is unavoidable. I think the secre- 
tary will be put right this winter by Congress. 
Do let me know how Mrs. Trowbridge is. Please 
send this note to my father, as it is a week or more 
since I wrote. As soon as anything further is known 
I will let you know. 
Yours very truly, A. Gray. 
July 18, 1838. 
Dear Tro, —I find, by turning over some books 
that have been lying on my table, four reviews which 
certainly ought to have been sent you long ago, but 
which have been forgotten in my great hurry for the 
