John Torrey letters, 1831-1873. Asa Gray correspondence files of the Gray Herbarium, 1820-1904. gra00078. Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University.

New York, May 2nd 1834

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 7th ult., together with the two copies of {North American Gramineae and Cyperaceae} were left at my house in due time, but I suffered the opportunity of sending the books by Mr. DeWolff to pass. Indeed I have had no time to write a simple letter for two or three weeks past as I am constantly occupied in making preparation for my botanical lectures. They cost me much more time & labour than my chemical course — for that charlatan {Charles} Whitlaw would not, (after putting me off till it was time for me to commence) let me have the transparencies unless at the exorbitant price of $400! So I have been obli= =ged to make numerous large drawings & to obtain aid from Mrs. T. & several friends — but I have to make selection of objects & superintend the whole work. I shall have an extensive set of illustrations before we finish — a set that will be far more useful than Charley's big pictures. I lecture without notes as I have the subject constantly in my mind. My class is pretty large — say about 90 — & I shall make about 200 dollars by the affair. Many of my

friends attend gratuitously. I have made no special efforts to obtain a large class for I wish our citizens to attend to the subject spontaneously — without being driven or coaxed. Many would join a new class if I would commnece one — but I will wait (D.V.) till next year, & then I shall have all my drawings & illustrations prepared so that lecturing will be mere play to me.

Charles Whitlaw is making desperate efforts to get up a class in Botany, but I don't think he will succeed. He is vexed that I can do without his transparencies & wishes to draw away persons from my lectures — but he is known to be a mere quack, & every one laughs at his attempts.

I have received all my plants from Paris, but have not yet distributed them in my {herbarium} {John Leonard} Riddell has sent some more species from Ohio — better than those in his last parcels — ___ We have no botanical news of importance. A German botanist called on me two days ago & gave me some Cari= =ces & grasses {which} he collected in Saxony. — Another chap brought me a letter from Dr. {Chester} Averill of Union {College} — He was a German & was said to be a botanist — but I doubt it. His name is {Reverend} Mr. [Lummus?].

Collections have be recd by Hooker from Drummond from Texas — they are said to be good — but I don't feel much interest in plants from that quarter. I would rather have a new Yankee grass than a new palm from any of the Mexican States. ___ When you come down next fall. I hope you will bring with you roots of some of the rarer native plants of your quarter — for cultivation in my garden. I have become exceedingly fond of horticulture & wish to crowd as many species as possible in my little spot of ground. ___ I must go to Princeton in about three weeks. I begin to be sick of teaching so constantly & shall make arrangements, if possible, to remain in the city next year. Nothing but want of money makes me work in this way, but I must get rid of what I still owe for my expenses encumbered last year, before I relinquish these money ma= =king jobs. ___ Poor Boyd is still in the dark room — as proud & as foolish as ever — He has been very sick & is still weak. We shall try & send him back to Ireland. ___ I have recd. from Dr. {A. F.} Brown (Mr. B. I mean!) two or three good specimens of Vanadinite of Lead — now, he says, exhausted for the mine is no longer worked. If you promise to look for a diamond for me, I will let you have of of the duplicates. ___ I wish you would let me have 4 more copies of the Grass. & Cyp. {North American Gramineae and Cyperaceae} The Lyceum have subscribed for a copy & I sent sent them one

from your last parcel — Mr. Carey took the other copy. I wish two copies for "Major {Andrew Jackson} Downing" of Newburgh — & a copy for Dr. {David} Hosack.

Prof. Hitchock will subscribe also — I think you can dispose of fifty copies the present season — ___ Mrs. T. has not yet recd. the Maple molasses — We are anxiously expecting it & have made up our mouths for the precious sweet. Yours truly J. Torrey

28 Asa Gray, M.D. Utica, New York

[postmark] NEW YORK MAY 5

New York, Jany. 16th 1835.

My dear friend

I wrote you about a fortnight since — but there was nothing special in my letter that required an answer. I am as busy as bee — but I am not as successful in treasuring up any thing useful. How I should like to have looked in upon you last New Years! Are your spirits good? Will Newall certainly succeed? — And are we to wait till the whole proposed sum is subscribed before any thing is done for your depart= =ments? I long to fit up a new laboratory for Princeton & I think we shall have one yet. Our good friends there need a little pushing on the subject. ___ The pneumatic trough that I wrote to you about has been sent to New Orleans. A friend of mine there wrote to me to have him one sent on without delay & I let him have what I had made for Princeton. I was glad that this request came, for I saw that several improvements could be made in the apparatus. Another is far advanced & will be finished next week. It will be just the thing & will be a credit to Princeton. Pray have the old rickety concern be sent to Botany Bay or where I will never see it again. I should like to spend about $100 on the Trough & its appendages

Let me know soon what I may expect to expend on the Chem. Dept. next spring. What do you think I have engaged for you? — A grand pair of large tinman's shears. This is an article you have long needed greatly. You must also have a good grindstone & a turning lathe. ___ Does Jäger talk any more of leaving Princeton? I wish he would go, for he is only a clog to us. Gray (my assistant) would be a great acquisition in Jäger's place. He is a first rate fellow & is good both in Chemistry & Natural History. He would do great credit to the college for he must make a noise in the world — & he will be continually publishing. He has just prepared for publication in the Annals of the Lyceum, two capital botanical papers. He is a good scientific & practical mineralogist. Keep your eye upon him. I should be very sorry to have him leave me, — but he will have to be in some public institution one of these days. ___ Have you been dubbed with a diploma from the — I must now say — American Philosopical Society? They have had the penetration to discover my modest merits & as you so greatly resemble me — (I mean in modesty) I suppose you have likewise had this blushing honor put upon you!

We had a meeting of the Trustees & Professors of our Medical College night before last & and we feel pretty confident of obtaining a new building — one that will be worth of New York & of the Medical Profession.

Remember me to the Macleans, Dod, Mrs & Prof. Alexander & all our friends & associates. Present my kind regards to Mrs. H. & believe me very truly yours.

John Torrey