SHORT ON WF.S'l'ERN BOTANY. HI 



undertake an expedition to winch his declining health was 

 totally inadequate; and on the banks of the Missouri, far 

 from the bosom of his family, and the circle of his friends, 

 he found an untimely grave.* " His Diary, in which the 

 latest date is only a few days previous to his death, shows 

 with what earnestness, even in the last stage of weakness antl 

 disease, his mind was devoted to the pursuit, in which he had 

 so nobly spent the most important part of his life. He has 

 left behind him a name which will long be honoured; his 

 early death will be regretted, not only by those who knew 

 his value as a friend, but by all the lovers of that fascinating 

 science, to which his life was dedicated, and which his kibours 

 have so much contributed to advance and embellish."-]- His 

 Herbarium and communications, it is well known, have con- 

 tributed to enrich the works of Pursh and Nuttall. He was 

 the friend and correspondent of Muhlenberg and Elliott, 

 and contributed materials for the copious catalogue of the 

 former, and the excellent " Sketch," of the latter. In South 

 America, where he had travelled extensively, he met with 

 Bonpland, the celebrated companion of Humboldt, and a 

 friendly correspondence was there established between 

 them which continued until his death. His notes and col- 

 lections made during frequent journeys through Georgia, 

 Florida, and other parts of North America, are extensive 

 and valuable. During the short period of his connexion 

 with Long's expedition, the infirmities resulting from a long 

 established and incurable pulmonary disease, then rapidly 

 approaching its fatal termination, could not overcome the 

 activity of his mind, nor divert his attention from his 

 favourite pursuit. Though unable to walk on shore, he 

 caused plants to be collected and brought on board the boat; 

 and not disheartened by the many vexations attending this 

 method of examination, he persevered throughout the course 

 of the voyage from Pittsburgh to Franklin, detected and 



* Dedication of the Florula Cestrica, by William Darlington, M.D. 

 t Account of the Expedition, by Dr James, Phila., 1823. 



