^:t. 28.] TO THE MISSES TORREY. 159 



made to understand each other. Still more amused 

 would you have been to see how I managed to make 

 a bargain with a bookseller for a few books I wished 

 to purchase. I feel the want of French sadly, and 

 have no time for study. 



Thursday evening. — I have been again occupied 

 the whole day at the Jardin des Plantes, and went at 

 six o'clock to dine with Mr. Webb to meet M. Gay.^ 

 Webb had taken care to ask an English student also, 

 who speaks French much better than he does English, 

 who sat between Gay and myself and interpreted when 

 it became necessary. But Gay speaks a little of what 

 will pass for English, mixed here and there with 

 French, so that I got on very well indeed. 



Gaudichaud was also there, a very interesting man 

 if one could talk with him. We were kept rather late, 

 so that it is now past twelve, so I must bid you good- 

 night. 



Monday evening. ... At three o'clock I went to 

 the Institute. I found that the room was already 

 crowded. I inquired for Jussieu and Brongniart, the 

 only members I could think of that I knew, but they 

 were not there and therefore I could not get in. After 

 some time Jussieu came in. But it was then too late, 

 so I lost the object for which I had given up half the 

 day. Jussieu, however, took me into the library, which 

 is worth seeing. I employed the remaining hour or 

 so in purchasing some prints of remarkable buildings, 

 etc., in Paris, and I was also tempted to buy a few 

 engravings from some of the great masters. After 

 dinner I went to Mr. Webb's, where I looked at plants 



round the world in the Bonite, and published the Botany of the ex- 

 pedition. 



^ Jacques Gay, died 1863. Born in Switzerland, and a pupil of 

 Gaudin. 



