zr. 29.] TO W. J. HOOKER. 273 
any separate inclosure was utterly forbidden, added 
difficulties almost insurmountable to the transmission 
of any specimen. Even as late as 1850 the large 
parcels from St. Louis were sent by steamboat to New 
Orleans and then by sailing vessel to New York or 
Boston. : 
Foreign communication was not much better, as Dr. 
Gray writes to Sir William Hooker in March, 1840: 
“TI have been waiting during the winter to write by 
some of the steamships, but they have disappointed 
us, and, though long expected, none reached us until 
the arrival of the Great Western a week or more 
since, which brought us fifty-six days’ later intelli- 
gence from Europe.” 
TO W. J. HOOKER. 
New York, May 30, 1840. 
I have been tolerably industrious for some years, 
but have never labored as I have done this winter 
and spring. But I look now for a little respite, which 
I greatly need. I have this afternoon written the de- 
scription of the last plant we have to give in the Ist 
volume of the “ Flora” (a new cucurbitaceous genus, 
of which more anon); have prepared the last sheet 
for the press, —that is, of the work proper, which 
reaches to page 656 instead of 550, as intended ; and 
have before me proofs of the supplement extending to 
page 672; what is yet to come will make up the 
volume to 720 pages! It has extended beyond all 
calculations or bounds, but we could not stop short. I 
hope to have done with the proofs early next week, 
when I expect to go immediately into the country and 
recruit for three or four weeks, for I am quite fagged 
out. Except, however, mere fatigue and the usual 
