Barnhart : Dates of Elliott's Sketch 685 



already that the first part ended with p. 96. Barton (Comp. Fl. 

 Phila., 82), cites p. 197, and as he cites no later pages, it is evident 

 that he had at the time only the first two parts. At the meeting 

 of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, May 19, 18 17 

 (Am. Mo. Mag. 1: 127. Je. 18 17), Dr. Mitchill " offered the 

 sketch of the botany of South-Carolina and Georgia, by Stephen 



j » 



Elliot, Esq., as far as the same was published. Great satisfaction 

 was expressed on finding this elaborate and classical work had 

 proceeded almost as far as the second order of the fifth class," 

 i. e., almost as far as page 314, which shows that Dr. Mitchill 

 presented Nos. 1-3 at this time. In June, 18 18, Rafinesque (Am. 

 Mo. Mag. 3 : 96) reviews the Sketch, " 5 Numbers, 8vo., each of 



100 pages. 



If any further evidence were needed, I have in my possession 

 a copy of pp. 1-400, bound from the original parts. The original 

 covers, except the first, are missing, but the demarcation of the 

 parts is easily discernible. 



The third number was doubtless published in March, 18 17. 

 Gray says, "on or before April 3, 18 17," and I have mentioned 

 the fact that a copy was presented to the New York Lyceum on 



May 19. 



The fourth number was nearly ready for distribution before the 

 end of August. Baldwin (Reliq. Baldw. 242), says that Elliott 

 corrected the last proof-sheet August 21, but owing to an epidemic 

 in Charleston (Reliq. Baldw. 193) it does not seem to have been 

 actually published before October. Baldwin's copy of it reached 

 Wilmington (/. e., Wilmington, Del.) November 12 (Reliq. Baldw. 



248). 



Of No. 5 I have a copy in the original cover and can verify 

 Gray's statement that it bears the date 1 8 1 7. It probably appeared 

 in December of that year. Baldwin sailed from Hampton Roads 

 for South America on December 3 (Reliq. Baldw. 251, 253), and 

 it is quite certain that he had not seen No. 5 at that time. His 

 letters make no reference to that number, as far as I can discover, 



and I have no further data to offer. 



After the appearance of Number 5, a considerable break occurs 

 in the publication of Elliott's Sketch. As I am not aware that 

 any explanation f this break has ever been given in print, the 



