zr. 33.] TO JOHN TORREY. 32T 
more open. Dr. Peck, who had visited Europe and 
learned much of botanical gardens there, when com- 
plimented on his success in laying it out, said that “ he 
felt he had been at work on a pocket-handkerchief !”’ 
Dr. Gray, as his letters show, fell earnestly at work to 
restock the garden, and from his various journeys, his 
correspondents, and the many seeds and roots which 
were coming in from the Western explorations soon 
made it a valuable spot for exchange. It is interesting 
to note how many plants, now the common stock of all 
gardens, were first grown and flowered here. One 
bed for many years always went by the familiar name 
of “ Texas,” as being the place where the new Texan 
seeds were grown. The fund for endowment was very 
small, and added greatly to the care of its oversight, 
because of the effort to keep within the income. For 
two years after Dr. Gray was living in the Garden 
house, he gave up two bed-rooms to the greenhouse 
plants, and so saved the Garden the expense of fuel for 
that period! One of his first deeds was to abolish the 
fee and make admission to the Garden free. It was 
the first — and remained for more than sixty years 
the only — public botanic garden in the country. 
TO JOHN TORREY. 
Tuesday evening, October 1, 1844. 
I am about half fixed at the Garden, and shall prob- 
ably sleep there to-morrow night. Were it not that 
my woman-kind has disappointed me, we should dine 
there to-morrow. . . 
r. Wyman ! wiehes much to accompany Frémont if 
he goes on another journey, entirely at his own expense, 
if need be. As his object is entirely zodlogy, he will 
1 Dr. Jeffries Wyman. 
