From Asa Gray   6 November 1879

My Dear Darwin

It is such a pleasure, and a rare sight, to see your handwriting, that I will do anything for you.¹ I shall try to get seeds of the Ipomœa & Megarrhiza for you, neither of which seed here.² But at this season it is doubtful even if the latter can be picked up in California   For the former try W^m. Thompson, seeds-man, Ipswich, on the chance.³ Glad you will turn your mind to what I think is an interesting point.

De Vries wrote me a letter.⁴

Now, I am a sinful not to have ever thought that you might like to see my revised Text Book, & to have sent it to you.⁵ Now I think of it, there are sundry things in the book which I could wish you to see, and I wonder I did not send the book

I am famously well—and deep in Solidago—an ungrateful task.⁶ My wife⁷ is in bed with a bad cold, but responds to your good wishes.

And hoping you & yours are all well, I am | Very sincerely Yours | Asa Gray