700 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [18S0. 



referred to in the glossary and index. I think that 

 the analogy of the right-handed screw indicates how 

 the world in general regard it, ab extra. There is a 

 sensible note on the question in the late Clerk-Max- 

 well's " Treatise on Electricity," vol. 1, — the reference 

 is not at hand at this moment. It takes, essentially, 

 our (my) view as it seems to me ; but it refers to a 

 similar confusion between the mathematicians and the 

 physicists. 



I wish you had gone on to illustrate more of the 

 words which have been changed or confused in mean- 

 ing ; for example, " pistiUum," " cyme," etc. 



It is a pity that the terms of nomenclature had not 

 been rearranged by Eoeper ^ so as to conflict less with 

 those of Linnseus and the general botanical use. 



We have had our centennial of the American Acad- 

 emy ; a pleasant reunion. . . . 



Mr. Winthrop gave a good pubhc address. 



I get only slowly on with the Compositse ; my inter- 

 ruptions and distractions are many and great. For- 

 tunately I am in perfect health; am outliving my 

 chronic catarrh. I hope you may do so also ! 



June 28, 1880. 

 Yours of the 15th is duly received, with your pleas- 

 ant remarks on my lectures. ^ Professor Bourier is 

 very welcome, and will please me by using any part of 

 them he chooses. I should like to see how they would 

 read in French. 



^ John A. C. Eoeper, 1800 - 1884 ; director and professor in the 

 Botanic Garden at Bale ; removed to Kostoek, Prussia, as professor, 

 before 1840. 



^ The Tale Lectures. 



