BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 251 



highest honors, he applied himself to agricultural pursuits. In 

 1796 he intermarried with Esther Habersham, daughter of Hon. 

 James Habersham, of Georgia. About that time, or a few years 

 previously, he was elected a Representative to the State Legisla- 

 ture from the Parish of St. Helena, and, with the intermission of 

 a few years, he continued to serve, first in the House and after- 

 wards in the Senate, until 1812. It was during the interval of 

 his absence from the Legislature (between 1800 and 1808), that 

 he devoted himself to the study of Botany, and commenced to 

 prepare the material for a work, which, published many years 

 afterwards, forms no inconsiderable part of his fame, and through 

 which he is best known to the scientific world. 



In 1808 he returned to the Senate, and at once took a lead- 

 ing part in the important business before that body. The " Free 

 School " system of South Carolina, since modified, enlarged and 

 improved, owes its origin to his sagacity, as a necessary correla- 

 tive to the extension of the right of suffrage. That and the 

 " Bank bill'' were both his measures The latter was one cre- 

 ating the " Bank of the State," which was to be the financial 

 agent of the State and under her control. On its enactment, he 

 was unanimously chosen President, in which capacity he con- 

 tinued to serve, by annual reelection, to the day of his death, 

 thus justifying the confidence reposed in him by the Legislature. 



This appointment caused his removal to Charleston, and 

 opened the field for larger and more varied usefulness. It 

 brought him more into contact with men of the highest culture, 

 and with the institutions of learning. In a year after, he was 

 elected President of the Charleston Library Society. On the 

 death of Dr. Marcy, of the South Carolina College, he was 

 elected President by the Trustees in that institution, to fill the 

 vacancy. He accepted the office for a time, and then resigned, 

 rather against the bent of his inclination and sympathies, but for 

 personal reasons which do him honor. At the founding and or- 

 ganization of the Charleston Medical College, towards which he 

 aided very materially, he had the gratification of being chosen 

 Professor of Botany and Natural History. He was the first and, 

 during his lifetime, the only President of the Philosophical So- 

 ciety of Charleston, which owed its origin mainly to his influ- 

 ence aud exertions. 



Not least among the literary labors of Mr. Elliott was that of 

 his connection with the Southern Review, for a time its editor, as 

 well as contributor to its columns. " The institution of the 

 Southern Review may be regarded as an epoch in the scientific 



