698 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1880, 



has been all this while unacknowledged ? I fear it is 

 even so. 



In the mean time much has happened, at least in 

 your old world, on which interest centres ; here not 

 much, but constant and rather humdrum work for me. 

 We have got through the winter, a mild one, in con- 

 trast to yours, so severe and trying, and our spring 

 opens pleasantly ; and Mrs. Gray and I are well and 

 happy. 



You have had a parliamentary election, the result 

 of which we delight in, though it took us, and seem- 

 ingly most of you, by surprise. I fancy you are 

 pleased to see Gladstone again at the helm, and stiU 

 more at the collapse of Jingoism, — not a moment too 

 soon. 



But let me hasten to teU you that Mrs. Gray and I 

 contemplate crossing the Atlantic early in September, 

 and of passing at least a full year in England and on 

 the Continent. A busy year it must be, if my powers 

 hold out ; for I must do a deal of work, and I want 

 to have a little play. I wish I could be more ready, 

 by the finishing of my general study of the vast order 

 Compositse, so that I might know exactly what re- 

 searches I must make in London, Paris, Berlin, etc. 

 I have not got on as I expected ; but, as I am to 

 reach seventy if I live to near the end of the current 

 year, I must no longer postpone my voyage. Indeed, 

 I would leave at midsummer if I could get away. But 

 the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science meets in Boston at the end of August, and 

 has a day in Cambridge. And it would not do for 

 me, an ex-president, to turn my back on it, and upon a 

 houseful of friends whom we wish to entertain. But 

 the moment it is over we shall hope to be off. 



