
          The general result may benefit the science of this part of the 
 country. It will probably tend to advance my interests, 
 as I certainly wish it may, the objects of my ambition being 
 high and honorable, as well as moderate. 


 Though I feel that I often, always, fail to do my whole 
 duty; yet I do not feel, nor believe that a perfectly consistent 
 Christian Course would expose me to persecution; nor 
 that obloquy is a test of Christian Character. These are 
 to be borne like other evils, when they [crossed out: result?] are incurred 
 in the course of one's duty; but surely they are not to be 
 sought, nor viewed as a test. Under the circumstances under 
 which we are placed, would our unexpectedly meeting with obloquy 
 be any test to us that we were doing right ? Would it not 
 lead us to suspect we had been, at least unwise? Such 
 men as Payson or Edwards, though they may often have been 
 pitied, I suspect, were never persecuted. But, while I think 
 you take a one-sided view and assume an unscriptural test, in 
 your own case, I thank you most sincerely for your kind admonition 
 to me, and will try to profit by it. My sheet is fairly full. 


 I need not say how delighted I should be to see you here; but you must 
 not come till the spring has fairly commenced, at least. The weather is 
 excessively unpleasant, the roads almost impassible; it snows every  3 or 4 days, 
 and not a speck of green is yet to be seen. A month later it will be 
 comfortable here. I fear I shall not have a place to receive you 
 before autumn, as a house is yet to be built for Dr. Walker. But I should 
 still like to have a visit from you in the course of the summer. 


 Must I address my next letters to Princeton? Yours affectionately


 A. [Asa] Gray


 March 26th. Package from Hooker containing 2 more
 parts of Jour. Bot. [Journal of Botany] & Species Filicum part 1, just arrived.


 Prof. John Torrey


 No. 30 Macdougal St.


 New York


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