de Candolle, Alph. 



Rec. Aug.lSth. Ans. Nov. 16th 



Genève July 25, 1860 



My Dear Doctor, 



I received, at last, after months of delay, the box containing your Querus, with various plants fhat Dr. 

 Asa Gray sent me. I thank you so much for the samples, that will help me greatly in my work and also 

 thank you for the samples of fruit that you were so kind to give me. My trip to Italy became lengthier 

 than I expected and it is not until now that I begin working on the Querus for the Prodromus. I am 

 studying the European species and the masses of varieties that have taken so much of my time. In 

 regards the American species, the notes in your letter of the lrst. of May, will be of great value. I will 

 always oberve them together with the samples. ï fear that some of the Mexican species have been 

 described both by Mertens and Galeotti on one side and by Liebmann on the other. Thèse authors have 

 written very short phrases, without illustrations and without researching the synonyms. I will try to 

 borrow some authentic samples. Already from Copenhagen I have been waiting for those from 

 Liebmann. If you should receive in St. Louis publications from the Universal Library of Genève, you 

 will see that I included in the bulletin of the scientific portion ( Archives of Physiologie and Natural 

 Sciences), some extracts or abridged articles of your Memoir concerning the Cuscuta and the Cactacee. 

 It is proof that they arrived at their destination and I am very obliged to you. 



We have had in Europe a very rigorous winter with winds from the Alps in the north. In the Midi winter 

 has been long and rainy. I was prevented by the rains to travel to Naples, which is what can usually be 

 done at the beginning of the season. Also in Palermo we expected to find a shorter spring for the month 

 of April. Thèse rains are not good for my health and I had to spend 3 or 4 months, much to long for my 

 taste, in Naples and Sicily, to recover my health. Thankfully we left that country before the révolutions, 

 which, as you know are not comforting for the foreigner. One day later it would have been impossible to 

 leave the country, because the country retained the ships for the transport of troops. There were battles 

 in the hôtels where we saw soldiers kill total ly inoffensive people, specially, women. The gênerai 

 hatred of the Sicilians against the Neapolitans, présage an explosion. However under Garibaldi the fight 

 could have been postponed as the Sicilians are not militaristic. They have never had conscription and do 

 not know how to handle arms. In Naples there is complète confusion. I do not know what the outeome 

 will be, but the scientists can only hope that they will be treated as real social outcasts. 



On my return here I found that everyone is very irritated at the manner in which France becomes 

 enveloped in ail areas. We deceived the Swiss in making them first believe that one would rejoin to their 

 territory that little portion of the Savoy between the Lake and Mont Blanc. Following we snatched it 

 back in spite the will of a great majority of the population. One voted under pressure and with the aid of 

 a thousand intrigues, for the union of ail the Savoy to France, instead of allowing the différent provinces 

 in proximity to Switzerland, to vote independently. Now we will have a considérable French population 

 on our soil ( the ancient Savoyard, our neighbors, became French). This mixture with the indigenous 

 population will bring about fréquent quarrels that will perhaps cause an intervention from our powerful 

 neighbor and finally will cause the loss of our independence. The gênerai restlessness is spreading 

 through Europe. France will evidently want to become larger. This country that is so well protected by 



