552 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1867, 



as mucli as I want to attend to, and I do my duty 

 to society in looking well after that. . . . 



TO A. DB CANDOLLE. 



September 10, 1866. 



. . . The war near you was sharp and quick. Swit- 

 zerland is as fortunately placed as any small nation 

 can be, when surrounded by strong ones ; but you see 

 that in this world only strength can be relied on. See 

 what indignity small and weak nations have to suffer. 

 I trust present peace may last to consolidate a new 

 Germany. But if not, you may have to dread a more 

 general upturning on the Continent. 



October 21, 1867. 



. . . Your analysis of the whole subject of rules 

 in nomenclature I think is sound and lawyer-like, or 

 rather judicial, as well as judicious. There are dan- 

 gers and inconveniences on every side, and good sense 

 and discretion are needed in the application of these 

 as of all rules. . . . 



Very faitlifuUy yours, Asa Gray. 



TO GEORGE BENTHAM. 



January 21, 1867. 



My dear Bentham, — Many thanks for your 

 kind remembrance of us in your letter at the end of 

 the year, which reached me only three or four days 

 ago. I avail myself of the first foreign post since to 

 return, with Mrs. Gray's love, our heartiest good 

 wishes to Mrs. Bentham and yourself, and I trust you 

 will be able to keej) up yet, for a good many precious 

 years, the steady botanical work which you make so 

 telling. . . . 



