viii PREFACE. 
Not far from the latter place are also the extensive _ 
-of William Hamilton, Esq., called the Wood- 
line which ] found not only rich in plants from all 
parts of the world, but particularly so in rare and new 
American species. Philadelphia being a central situa-) 
tion, and extremely well calculated for the cultivation of- 
plants from all the other parts of North America, I 
found. this collection particularly valuable for furnishing 
me with a general knowledge of the plants of that coun- 
try, preparatory to more extensive travels into the inte- 
rior, for the discovery of new and unknown subjects. 
Mr. John Lyon, (of whom I shall have an opportunity i 
to 9 fea hereafter,) who had the management of tl . 
is, was then about Anienem npo Cisrag. the 
offer. of, being appointed. his successor, | er 17 
cordingly in 1802.1 entered upon the dnin 
Dest quy itin thik place, which was until 1805, b _ 
received and collected plants from all parts of. North 
America; and when Michaux's ** Flora Boreali-Ameri~_ 
cana" ' appeared, which was during that time, Lwas not 
only in possession of most of his plants, but hal | then a. 
considérable number not described by him. . : 
i Vithin this period I had also formed a connectio 
ville Dr» Benjamin. S. Barton, Professor: of. Botany in. 
the University of Pensylvania, &c. whose industrious re-. ‘ 
searches i in all the different branches of natural history - 
are so well known to the literary world. He likewise, 
for some time previous, had been collecting materials for _ 
an American Flora. As I was now very anxious to ex-. 
plore the more remote parts of the country, particularly. Fe 
. thea interesting ranges of the Allegany Mountains, I was. - 
enabled, by the kind assistance ef this gentleman, te 
