216 LIFE AND LABORS OF PROF. JOHN TORRE Y. 



publisbed through no fault of his. There would have been more to add, 

 perhapsofequalimportance, if Dr. Torreyhadbeenas ready to complete 

 and publish, as he was to investigate, annotate, and sketch. Through 

 undue diffidence and a constant desire for a greater peifection than was 

 at the time attainable, many interesting observations have from time 

 to time been anticipated by other botanists. 



All this botanical work, it may be observed, lias reference to the 

 flora of North America, in which, it was hoped, the diverse and sei)a- 

 rate materials and component parts, which he and others had wrought 

 upon, might some day be brought together in a completed system of 

 American botany. 



It remains to be seen whether his surviving associate of nearly forty 

 years will be able to coraidete the edifice. To do this will be to supply 

 the most pressing want of the science, and to raise the fittest monu- 

 ment to Dr. Torrey's memory. 



Intlie estimate of Dr. Torrey's botanical work, it must not be forgotten 

 that it was nearly all done in the intervals of a busy |)rofessional life; 

 that lie was for more than thirty years an active and distinguished 

 teacher, mainly of chemistry, and in more than one institution at the 

 same time 5 that he devoted much time and remarkable skill and judg- 

 ment to the practical applications of chemistry, in which his counsels 

 were constantly sought and too generously given 5 that when, in 1857, 

 he exchanged a portion, and a few years later, the whole, of his profes- 

 sional duties for the office of United States assayer, these requisitions 

 upon his time became more numerous and- urgent.* In addition to the 

 ordinary duties of his office, which he fulfilled to the end with punc- 

 tilious faithfulness, (signing the last of his daily reports upon the very 

 day of his death, and quietly telling his son and assistant that he need 

 not bring him any more,) he was frequently requested by the head of 

 the Treasury Department to undertake the solution of difficult problems, 

 especially those relating to counterfeiting, or to take charge of some 

 delicate or confidential commission, the utmost reliance being placed 

 upon liis skill, wisdom, and probity. 



In two instances these commissions were made i^ersonally gratifying, 

 not by pecuniary payment, which, beyond his simple expenses, he did 

 not receive, but by the opportunity they afforded to recruit failing 

 health and to gather floral treasures. Eight years ago he was sent by 

 the Treasury Department to California by way of the Isthmus; last sum- 

 mer he w-eut again across the continent; and in both cases enjoyed the 



*■ It ought to be added that, Avhen the Government assay-office at New York was 

 established, the Secretary of the Treasury selected Dr. Torrey to be its superintendent, 

 Avhich would have given to the establishment the advantage of a scientific head. 

 But Dr. Torrey resolutely declined the less laborious and better ijaid post, and took in 

 preference one the emoluments of which Avere much below his worth and the valuable 

 extraneous services he rendered to the Government, simply because he was unwilling 

 to accex^t the care and resx^onsibility of treasure. 



