[To Mrs. Gray, Jan; 1851 Cont. ] 
r 3 lvq, 
know what very agreeable and interesting Americans there. now at Sir W. 
O 
Hooker' s — Prof, and Mrs. Gray?”-^Nof as he has only seen- the latter, of 
i^course the full and total weight of the compliment belongs to- you ! ' 
'i^hereupon” Mr. B. ■ remembered the letter L brought^awi- Mrs. Bates came over 
(from Mortlake where they nbware) at once in- her carriage-^'with a very 
good looking young Vahderifever --'to call— learning how matters stood in-' 
sifted on seeing me-^bbd (Miss Hooker being out) we had a long chat. ' 
They are off for Italy early next, month. She took your address— hnd 
hopes to' meet, you- in- Paris. —"Spend but^ 2 or 3 days there— — ‘just to dim 
with the President. ?r’"'******&c. — &c. —He. —Very much of it, and vary a-' 
^ 
musing ! 
Also funny is this." She; spoke of a' learned Professor, from Cambridge 
~'who had just come over, with letters from Mr.-EV^itett— very scientific. 
-—'Guess who- it proved to be? Maye? of Cambridge. Cest drSie !1 
Mrs. B. ■ was trying to make out your genealogy, and was asking after 
"Mr. 'I/cring who married Miss Lothrop, an- old acquaintance of hers.—' I: 
thought she had mistaken the name, and 7jant thro, the whole race of 
riags and their wives-tfcut. no- ! Finally I: thought of your dear old grans 
father, and said, "Oh ! I: have it,~we must go back one generation. "Oh 
yes, "said sha--"Go- back a' long way— I am as old as the hills. " — How Hook- 
er laughed when- I: told him the story ! and when I told him of the man- of 
profound - s cience , and of another— whom we have not seen yat-^tha new. Amei 
Secretary of Legation- to Vienna— who is " 
— ‘ofwhom -aaltbar Hooker nor Laver heard. 
A 
a' g-reat, botanist— Mr. Somebody 
Travelling titlros. - L suppose 
is dubbed Professor— to travel with — like Mr. Professor Btmats 
b-afore him.' How, do' not call yourself ttie vnfe of a' Professor - 
certain-, simple (your affectionate husband) 
ut. Oi a 
As-a’ Gra.y 
