SHORT ON WESTERN BOTANY. 101 



did nnicli towards advancing the science of Arboriculture in 

 the United States. 



In the year 1793, Michaux crossed the Alleghany moun- 

 tains, and visited many portions of the Western country ; 

 he traversed Kentucky, and spent some time in this place. 

 In the following year, 1794, he again descended the Ohio 

 river, and pushed his investigations into the interior of Illi- 

 nois, even to the borders of the Mississippi. U'lie difficulties, 

 privations and dangers to which this enthusiastic naturalist 

 was exposed at that early day, in these unsettled wilds, may 

 be easily imagined ; but we can as readily conceive, that 

 these all were more than balanced in his mind, by the de- 

 lights which he experienced in traversing a heretofore un- 

 trodden region, through which, in reference to the lights of 

 science and the labours of civilization, it may truly be said, 



" He bent his way where twilight reigns sublime 

 O'er forests silent since the birth of time." 



In 1796, this father of American Botany returned to Europe, 

 richly laden vvith the materials for a comprehensive work on 

 the Flora of North America. But finding his country in a 

 distracted state, growing out of the Revolution, he was in- 

 duced to postpone the publication of his works, and to join 

 an expedition then about to sail for New Holland ; on which, 

 after having visited TenerifFe, and the Isle of France, he 

 died at Madagascar, in November, 1802. 



Previously to this, however, his son Francis Andre Mi- 

 chaux, commonly styled Michaux the younger, who had been 

 with his father in America, returned hither in the year 1801, 

 under the auspices of oVI. Chaptal, Minister of France for 

 the interior, and spent nearly two years more, in further 

 investigations of the natural productions, especially of the 

 Carolinas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. These were made 

 during a journey from the city of New York as far west as 

 Nashville, and thence to Charleston. On this travel, he dili- 

 gently examined that portion of our State bordering on the 

 Ohio river above Maysville; and thence through the interior 

 by the way of Lexington, to the Barrens, A narrative of 



