236 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



botanists. But you may rely upon it, that nothing but death 

 or disease will prevent me from going on steadily. Both in- 

 terest and knowledge increase as I get along." The Southern 

 Oyperacew now especially engaged his attention. His letters to 

 Darlington and Collins, at this time, are full of critical notes and 

 minute inquiries relative to the species of Cyperus, Seirpus and 

 Rhynchospora, and he had nearly completed his elaboration of 

 the plants of this order, and was engaged upon the genera Pas- 

 palum and Panicum among the grasses, when he reluctantly laid 

 aside his work at a new and unexpected call. The government 

 was preparing to send out a new expedition for the exploration 

 of the upper Missouri, under the command of Major Long, to be 

 accompanied by a corps of naturalists. Baldwin's friends, Dar- 

 lington and Leconte, successfully urged his appointment as bot- 

 anist, and prevailed upon him to accept. Hope of prolonging 

 his failing health doubtless influenced his decision. In March, 

 1819, he made the journey over the mountains to Pittsburgh, 

 where he joined his fellow-travelers. A small light-draft steam 

 boat had been constructed for the long river voyage ; but repeated 

 delays ensued, and it was not till the 5th of May that the depar- 

 ture took place. From the beginning Baldwin seems to have had 

 sad foreboding. On the point of departure he wrote Darlington : 

 " I shall hold out as long as I can. Whether my remains are 

 deposited on the banks of the Missouri or among my kindred at 

 home, is now a matter of little consequence. For the sake of my 

 family and the pursuits I am engaged in, I should wish to live a 

 few years longer." In fact his strength was already failing, and 

 only his enthusiasm and force of will sustained him. The boat 

 proved unsuitable for her work, was leaky, damp and uncomfort- 

 able, requiring constant repairs. A stop was made at Cincinnati 

 for a week, partly for repairs and partly on account of the alarm- 

 ing condition of Dr. Baldwin, who remained on shore with his 

 friend Dr. Drake, until he rallied. As the boat made her slow 

 way down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Missouri, he 

 chafed under the restrictions, both of military rule and of in- 

 creasing weakness, and in his desire to make the most of the few 

 opportunities allowed him for collecting, he doubtless exhausted 

 his little remaining strength. 



The following almost last words written on the 7th of July, 

 have a -sad interest: "The mortification and chagrin which I 

 feel in being thus disappointed from time to time in my expecta- 

 tions of doing anything worthy of. notice in this expedition, are in- 

 expressible. Perhaps I do not support myself under it as I ought, 



