^T. 53.] TO R. W. CHURCH. 525 



England, in normal times worth only from $4.90 to 

 f5.00, is worth nearly or quite $8.00, so that a con- 

 tribution of £5 sterling really now counts here for 

 about forty dollars ! ! So you see how hard it is for 

 me to discourage your kind intentions. But I really 

 feel that the sum which I specified, as the condition 

 of my own gift to our university, is really quite sure, 

 though slower in coming than we had hoped. 



As to the building for the herbarium, I have only 

 to state it goes on famously. It is considerably 

 enlarged in plan from what was at first contemplated, 

 and a favorable early spring has allowed of more pro- 

 gress than could have been expected at this season. 



The generous donor of the building not only 

 adopted at once the larger plans as soon as suggested, 

 but himself proposed improvements and additions. 



The building, the foundations of which are already 

 laid, in the most substantial manner, is 32 by 57 

 feet, and is connected with my private study in the 

 house I reside in by a neat conservatory 18 feet long, 

 which takes the place of the simple wooden corridor 

 at first intended. The whole will cost Mr. Thayer, 

 the donor, by the contracts, more than f 11,000, and 

 is likely, by extras, to reach the round siun of $12,- 

 000. And all will be done before the summer is 

 over, we trust. 



See how the expression of your interest to me has 

 led me on, to the neglect of everything else I want to 

 write about. ... I wish to say something about the 

 troubles in your Old World, which, with all its age 

 and wisdom, falls into " difficulties " hardly less grave 

 than ours. I hope poor brave Denmark will not be 

 crushed out of existence. There are English ques- 

 tions which we regard with much attention, ecclesias- 



