^T. 29.] TO W. J. HOOKER. 275 



your herbarium and library. Long accustomed to 

 these advantages, you can scarcely appreciate the diffi- 

 culties we often find. I was to-day wishing for a 

 look at your Cucurbitacese ; we have, as you know, 

 but few of the order. 



I shall not be able to visit Florida or any part of 

 the Southern States this summer; indeed, I fear I 

 shall be debarred from any botanical journeys for some 

 years. I must direct all my time and strength to our 

 " Flora." I hope we may complete another volume 

 by the spring of next year. The way seems to be 

 opening for increased facilities in sending a botanical 

 collector to the Eocky Mountains. Our government is 

 about to establish a line of military outposts quite up 

 to the source of the Platte, in the principal pass of 

 the mountains ; and in a few years I doubt not we 

 shall have small colonies in Oregon ; but I know not 

 when we shall be able to send a collector. I would 

 like vastly to go after Grayia myself, but that cannot 

 be at present. Nuttall has been giving a course of 

 botanical lectures in Boston ; and still remains there, 

 I believe. My attempts to find Wilson's poem have 

 not yet been successful. I shall esteem it a piece of 

 good fortune if I succeed. I have engaged a friend 

 of mine, a bookseller, also to search for it ; and when 

 I visit Philadelphia I shall inquire of some old people 

 who knew Wilson. May God bless you, my dear 

 friend; kindest regards and affectionate sympathies 

 to Lady Hooker. Faithfully your attached 



A. Gray. 



