560 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1867, 



the preparation. But I cannot lay the corner-stone 

 till college work is over, next July. Meanwhile I 

 want suggestions as to form, and how to condense 

 references to the utmost and crowd a page, yet leav- 

 ing it clear and comely. When I have got the thing 

 blocked out, and have worked up a part, then Mrs. 

 G. and I hope to go over and see you, and to stay a 

 good long while. Adieu, till next week. 



Ever yours, A. Gray. 



TO E. W. CHUECH. 



Deceml)er 5, 1867. 



Before the year closes I mean you shaU have a note 

 from me, to renew on my part an intercourse which 

 has been interrupted through negligence of mine. I 

 find I get more and more overloaded as I grow older, 

 and I dare say you find it the same. Still we must 

 exchange a word now and then. 



I have to tell you of the severe loss we have had in 

 the death, in October, of Mrs. Gray's good and kind 

 father, Mr. Loring. He and my wife were very much 

 to each other, and in former years had been unusually 

 intimate companions ; and his death at seventy-three, 

 quite unexpected tiU within a few weeks of the event, 

 is very much felt. Mrs. Gray's own health, too, is 

 but poor, though on the whole I trust it is becoming 

 firmer. 



If you see your friend Mr. Eraser (whom I, un- 

 fortunately, did not) you may learn from him what 

 manner of man Mr. Loring was. I wish I knew him, 

 to say to him how higUy we value a letter he lately 

 addressed to Mrs. Loring, and which I read yester- 

 day, — so full of sympathy and just appreciation. 



