San Jose Hay Isth 1691 P.O.Box 266 
Serono l/Vatson Esqr 
Dear Sir; 
Youi- letter of tne bth inst, 
came to hand in due season, and also the Hemorial of Professor 
Asa Gray, the perusal of which, bnterested me very much. His 
was a life of even tenor, and always actively progressive; 
whose works have been helpful to many individual s, an honor 
and an advantage to the great Institution, with which he was 
connected, beneficent, as regards his community , and a benefit 
to his country and his time. His was a character to respect, 
to love and admire. 
Your letter contained the full answer to the inquiries, 
which I made of you, and for which I am much obliged. 
The statement which 1 made to the State Medical Society, 
of the development of the Botany of Gal ifomia, is but a brief 
sketch, and the subject is deserving of a moi'e extended his- 
~tory,but it happenned that the appointment of the Presid<sit 
of the Society , under which I acted, was addressed to my former 
residence, in San Francisco , and from thenc e, through over-sight^ 
was not forwarded to me',and when the Pre8idsnt,vvho lives in 
Sacramento , had learned of my removal to this pi ace, and wrote 
to me here, it had got to be close on to the time of the an- 
il 
-nual meeting, so that I had but little time for the prepara- 
-u ion, especially as my sources of information, were mo stly 
in san Francisco and at Berkeley; and then my health is sgich 
