686 Barnhart : Dates of Elliott's Sketch 



following extract from a letter of Stephen Elliott to John Torrey, 

 dated at Charleston, November 21, 1818, may be of interest in 

 this connection : 



" Early in January last I was attacked by a Rheumatic affec- 

 tion of the Head so severe that for months I was incapable of at- 

 tending to anything. I could not even sign my name without 

 suffering. With the return of summer my indisposition abated. 



j 



j 



the last literary exertions I have made. In the commencement of 



resume my 



usual 



August when I was expecting and preparing to 

 habits, circumstances occurred which determined me to visit our 

 Western Country and I have just returned from an excursion over 

 a part of the Alabama Territory. I made this expedition so un- 

 expectedly to myself that I had only time to arrange such business 

 as was absolutely necessary and I have returned merely to visit 

 my Family and business for a moment. In two days I expect to 

 leave this for Columbia to attend the Sessions of our Legislature, 

 and from thence it is uncertain whether I may not return immedi- 

 ately to the Alabama. I have not had time since my return to 

 visit my herbarium and Books which are on a small farm I own 

 about two miles from the City." And again, in a letter without 

 date, but postmarked at Charleston "Aug. ig" and bearing an 

 endorsement by Torrey showing that it was received August 30, 

 1 8 19 : "At present I have not my Herbarium nor my Books in 

 Charleston with me. Thay are at a small farm in the country. 

 These two letters are the only ones from Elliott now to be found 

 among Torrey's correspondence. The others, if they could be 

 found, might throw additional light upon the dates of the 

 Sketch. 



The sixth part, concluding the first volume, was not published 

 until 1 82 1. Meanwhile Baldwin had died, September I, 1 8 19, at 

 Franklin, Missouri Territory, so his correspondence is no longer 

 available for data. Gray says, "before October 12," and I can 

 add nothing to this, although I would not be surprised to learn 

 that it occurred early in the year. 



To sum up all the evidence brought out in the preceding dis- 

 cussion, we may say : 



