botanist for an expedition of discovery sent out by the French gov- 

 ernment under Nicolas Baudin, and was in April, 1802, on the 

 island of Madagascar, where he died the following November. He 

 doubtless never saw his book and could not have written the pre- 

 sentation inscription, but we know that the younger Michaux was 

 in Charleston in the spring of 1802. In all probabihty he then at 

 his father's desire presented this copy to the Charleston Library 

 Society. Some twenty species of oaks are treated, the majority 

 of them being native to South Carohna. Each species is illus- 

 trated by exceptionally fine engraved plates. Among those first 

 described by Michaux are the Quercus laurifolia and the Q. Cates- 

 haei so abundant in the coast region. 



Michaux 's Journal was not published until 1889. The earlier 

 portion, recording his travels between 1785 and April, 1787, was 

 lost in a shipwreck which he suffered off the coast of France in 

 1796. Fortunately all which relates to South Carohna is still pre- 

 served and from these hastily written notes and records of plants 

 discovered from day to day we are brought into a more intimate 

 relation to the study of our flora than we have gained from any 

 other pioneer worker. 



Michaux is said by his son to have communicated a paper to the 

 Agricultural Society of South Carolina discussing the various Eu- 

 ropean species of trees which might be advantageously culti- 

 vated in Charleston. I have not had access to this work as yet. 



FRANCOIS ANDRE MICHAUX 



Francois Andre' Michaux gives an account of his visit to South 

 Carohna in 1802 in his Travels^ Charleston was then stricken with 

 yellow fever, but Michaux, becoming weary of Sullivan's Island, 

 ventured into the city and there contracted the fever. Upon re- 



» Portions of the Journal of Andre' Michaux, Botanist, written during his travels in 

 the United States and Canada. 1785 to 1796. With an introduction and explanatory 

 notes, by C.S. Sargent. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. XXVI, 1888. p. 1-145. 



^Travels to the westward of the Allegany Mountains in the states of Ohio. Kentucky, 

 and Tennessee, and return to Charleston, through the upper Carolinas . . . translat- 

 ed from the original French by B. Lambert. Lend 1805. 



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