Asa Gray correspondence files of the Gray Herbarium, 1838-1892 (inclusive). Correspondence with George Engelmann, 1857-1884. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

or requests about his Paris business. —

— Since I am away from there, they do treat me badly there and procrastinate my work excessively. — I am getting sick of this distant work.

Bigelow has not answered my letters neither. I do not know whether he is mad at my pruning down or what it may be.

I shall take the set of Wrights you mention, but would not incommode you to pay him — only pay him what you have for me; for the balance of $30 he must wait till I return —

Is Mr Carey and Agassiz also suffering by the Crisis? Will A. come to Europe in Spring? The papers report his refusal to go to Paris as Prof. of Geology. Nobody has seen his work yet. Is the first vol. out?

Remember us to them. I have offered to Grisebach to do the Cuscutae and Euphorbia of Wright for him but get no answer. Has Wright Cactaceae?

What is he going to do next?

I hope to get better news from you soon — do not fail to let me know about the financial circumstances of yourself and friends — I hope Mr Jackson will recover something at last. — Our kindest regards Yours ever G. Engelmann

Notes made in Herb. gen. Paris Jardin des Plantes 1857

Gonolobus hirtus R Br = Cynanhum hirtum Mx (Michaux specimen is the brown flowered plant with muricate fruit, lobes of corolla obtuse ovate [drawing] — {Gonolobus} macrophyllus: Michaux specimen (Cynanchea macr) also one from Short, sent by A Gray 1839 — coll on Kentucky River: lobes of corolla pale (whitish?) linear, very long [drawing] umbell very may flowered sinus of leaves almost closed Short's label reads: [{Gonolobus} hirsutus {Gonolobus} tiliifolius Dne seems to be same but with smaller umbells and smaller flowers Short's label is [{Gonolobus} macrophyllus? flowers] [greenish purple] Asa Gray vis 1839 stem also retrose hairy, but less so {drawing] than less leaves smaller, roundish, sinus also closed [drawing]

{Gonolobus} laevis Michx is our green flowered plant [my angled-fruited one] Sketches of 3 Gonolobus flowers, made from the fresh flower 1835 [1st drawing]: Whitish Washington Co, Ark [2nd drawing:] brown red Fort Gibson Indiana Territory [3rd drawing:] yellowish green Arkansas [4th drawing:] young unripe fruit

I send a little box with a package in paper of a fw larger berries of the common Ampelopsis not rooting nor adhering with sucking tendrils — and a larger number of small berries of the climbing, rooting and sucking form Mr Sargent may try & see whether they [construe?]

now; – it was quite severe for a few days and seems to make the tour of Europe.

I must say, I feel a little ashamed to go on and travel and spend money as if nothing had happen or could happen, while others suffer and contract. But such an opportunity will not come again, and once more on the other side of the Mississippi, I shall be tied down sure enough.

Only think that I have not got those publications from Seemann yet! And I can not see them in Germany; Braun and {Eduard} Fenzyl {Fenzl} have both got your Gunnison and Pope Botany, the latter without plates, but nothing of Whipples'; and I am so anxious to see that! In fact I have delayed writing in the hope of being able to see that at least here in Vienna.

Fenzyl {Fenzl} says that Elliott is not in Vienna, and is very anxious to obtain it.

Do me the favor and send Whipple's [?] without franking by mail to me and another to Prince Salm (franked at my expense) as I believe, I wrote you before. before. — But send the plates along.

for Gray Grisebach says that Commelina agraria Kunth is the same as L. [cayenaeus?] is Rich. I have his Vegetation den Caribien for you I find a beautiful and curious Euphorbia in Jamaica — apparently undescribed; figured as Viscum opuntioides Sloan 201.2 Pyrethrum aphyllos Plum 234.1 I name it {Euphorbia} rhipsaloides. — Has Wright many Cact. Euph & Cusc? What is he doing now?

Dr. {Theodore C.} Hilgard writes me that he has sent you a number of plants of our St Louis Frageria, which Mrs. Wilanoria and Mr. Gay are so desirous of obtaining. I hope they have safely arrived at Cambridge and you will retain one or a few and send the balance poste haste (or in Spring?) to Paris. Charge me with the expenses; I owe much kindness to both; lady and gentleman, and am glad to do something for them. —

I cannot get the things you gave Seemann for me, have written to Hooker for them again

Do me the favor to send a copy of the Report with Bigelow's Cactaceae and plates to Prince Salm–Dyck at Dyck near N bey Neufs Prussia. It will go under open cover, like papers with us by Mail; send it in my name, prepay it and charge me with it

Euphorbia subserrata from Oregonan {Euphorbia} notata from Nebraska etc are identical.

{Euphorbia} polygonifolis Hook fl. brat., the western plants is {Euphorbia} glyptosperma, which remains a good and well characterized species.

Vienna Dec 29 1857 My dear Gray

I can not let the year passaway without letting you know of my whereabouts; and above all, how painfully we have felt your and your brother in laws pecuniary disaters. How sadly his poor wife must suffer! He who can say that health remains, can hope and work and conquer. About the same time our poor friend Braun at Berllin has had the scarlet fever in his family for about 2 months, and has lost one of his two sons a most promising youth of 17 or 18 years.

I wrote you from Munich about 6 weeks ago. I left there soon afterwards for Kreuznach and Frankfort

and must confess hesitated there somewhat waiting for letters from St Louis. They were not unfavorable in relation to my affairs there, but who knows in these times what the next day may bring. Finally I concluded to trust to my friends there and set off for the South. I spend a day at Leipzig to conclude the bargain with the heirs of the late Prof {Johann Jakob} Bernhardi about this large herbarium, said to include 40,000 (names of) species, which I have obtained for our Mr Shaw. I hope it will be a welcome acquisition for our country. I want books too, but S. is not easily persuaded, though Hooker does encourage him.

At Prague we staid a few days kindly treated by the Professors there, expecially {Vincenz F.} Kosteletzky. The Haenkean Herbarium is in a poor plight; {Carl} Presl's furnished me with a few more synonyms.

Fenzyl {Fenzl} sends his reprints; he is extremely kind and promises much. I shall have to stay here a week or more, but the season, the short days are unfavorable.

My wife and sone have been unwell with the prevailing influenza at Frankfort, but are almost over it