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

preface that you prepared certain families. In this way, too, I can claim a large proportion of the book for myself as the working up of the matter into a synoptical form, with some few additions after you have published the monographs, will be my own. I have just recd. a letter from Gov. Marcy. He leaves me [?], & says he has confidence that I will do the work properly without any particular instructions from him. Mrs. T. & the children will probably return the last of the week. I will inform you by letter when they will set off, as I wish yo to trouble you with making some arrangements for their accommodation. The papers are received — but I irregularly. There was none to-day, & I have not yet seen the Observer — nor the Commercial since Thursday — — I think that was the last. Did you send for {Edward} Hitchcock's Ornithichnites? Have you seen the review of {Walter} Colton's Reasons &c. in the last No. of Bib. Rep. {Biblical repertory} Addison Alexander is said to be the writer, & it is like aqua fortis. You will receive the Introd. to the Cyp. soon. I am greatly interrupted. — Ever & affectionately your. J. Torrey —

[postmark] PAID 29 Asa Gray, M.D. Lyceum of Natural History New York.

Princeton, July 28th 1836.

Dear Doctor

I received this morning Fig. 53. revise — which must be almost the last of the Carices. I find but little to alter or correct — except some small matters which would probaby have been noticed by you in a second reading. {Carex} paupercula must be good, & yet I should not wonder if we found the true {Carex} alba at the north. All our specimens, however, appear to belong to one species. I am satisfied about {Carex} elliotii, that you have disentangled the synonymy correctly. We made it out pretty clearly that {John} Dewey worked up his description from Elliott & Muhlenberg. What was it that Dewey figured? As to {Carex} lonchocarpa of {Christian Konrad} Sprengel, we know as much about that as our friend of Rochester. It is a mere guess. The plant is rather variable as to spikes, & I wish you had described it anew. I suppose that most of the {Carex} baldwinia — looking things which I laid out from {William} Baldwin's specimens for distribution in the herb. belong to this species. So that queer looking thing from {Thomas Russell} Ingalls is a distinct kind from all the others! Turgesceus is not a bad specific name especially as it groups with {Carex} intumescens. Take care & alter all the Schukhrs to Schkuhrs. I had some hope that the Texan var. of {Carex} stenolepis would turn out a new species when examined a=gain.

but I could not find any character to rely on. I wish I had obtained a drawing of {Carex} miliaris. I did obtain drawings of two species. One was {Carex} paupercula — what was the other? I gave both to Dewey. You need not trouble yourself to make out an index. I will attend to that when I come home. I must, if possible, go to Philadlephia, if it is only to look over Cyperaceae, before I finish off my paper — How would you like to have me notice the part you have done? Shall I say that the Carices are our joint work? The experssion "we" is used in this part — of the monograph — while in the other part it is (I think) "I". Suppose I say that for this we are equally responsible & give no particular — But I will say it is all yours if you will. Perhaps the expression in the lower part of page 418 might, in case I call it our joint work, look as if I had so little to do with it, that I did not know one of my own (& {Schweinitz}) species — which is really true of {Carex} elliottii — for it was a made up description. It may be altered a little so as toward this appearance. — "and the name" &c. "given in the monog. of N. American Carices & by Prof. D."

How I long to be home, working with you at plants! I am just through the course here. Had I more company in the prosecution of Chemistry I should like it here very well. Mr. Henry is engaged in some other matters just now — from sharing some lectures on Architecture & working something on Physics so that although we see each other every

day, & have much very pleasant intercourse, we do not labour in science together. There is some chance of his consenting to stand as a candidate for Bache's place (lately soon to be vacated) I don't like the idea of his removing to Philadelphia for I think that the men of science there will have an unfavourable influence upon his spiritual welfare.

What were those plants from China? Are there any Cyperaceae among them? Mrs. T. says that a letter was received about a box of plants & that George Shaw was to attend to it. What specimens were they?

I thank you dear Doctor for your kindness in receiving Mrs. Torrey & the children. I look upon you almost as one of my own family so that I fear I call upon you sometimes when I have no claim upon you — It will not be worth while to send me letters after this week as I shall probably not receive them.

Believe me affectionately yours John Torrey

10 PAID [postmark] PRINCE.n N.J. JUL 28

Asa Gray, M.D. Lyceum of Natural History New.-York

Princeton, March 28th 1837.

Dear Doctor

I have just written an apology to the Committee on the Booksellers dinner declining their invitation. So you need not look for me on Thursday.

Your paper on Ceratophyllaceae pleases me greatly. I see nothing in it to correct, save the typographical errors, which of course, you will detect yourself. If how= ever, you will send me a revise. I should be glad to look over it. Have you searched carefully, in the Analyse du Fruit for the observation alluded to by {George} Arnott? Let the printer strike off a good number of extra copies of this paper. I should like thirty for myself. If I am spared this year I must endeavour to study, at the proper season, the fruit of Ceratophyllum, & settle the matter, if possible whether there is more than one species of this genus, — at least in the U. States. The young fruit of Nuphar, Nymphaea, Brasenia & Cabomba, must also be examined with the greatest attention. Indeed we must both of us look more at recent fruits, seeds & ovules, than we have heretofore done —