1857.3 Cmcinnati Horticultural Society — Proceedings. 139 



Mr. Robert Clarke presented to the Library ' The Transactions 

 of the New York State Agricultural Society,' for which a vote of 

 thanks was tendered. 



Saturday, Feb. 7th 1857. 



Vice President Stoms in the Chair. 



The Committee heretofore apppointed to give suitable expression 

 of the Society's sentiments in relation to the recent decease of Mons. 

 Francis Andre Michaux, of France, late a corresponding member 

 of this Society, submitted the following Keport and Resolutions : 



report. 



The announcement of tlie deatli of Michaux, lias excited in this Society a deeper sen- 

 sation than could have bccu produced by that of any one of the numerous distinguished 

 men of science in Europe ; for not only was the foundation of his fame and his useful- 

 ness to mankind based on the same efforts to do good, which we acknowledge as our 

 chief object and duty, but our Institution is iudebtcd to him for mai-ks of attention and 

 kindness, peculiarly grateful and encouraging to its youthful eiForts. 



He died full of years and of honors — honors not displayed in the dazzling magnificence 

 of those bestowed on military heroes, but rooted in the hearts of the lovers and benefactors 

 of their race — of those who desire and assist in the progress of human improvement. No 

 taint of those crimes against humanity, which, during a portion of his life, overwhelmed 

 with sorrow and regret, the best and wisest among the good and wise of his native coun- 

 . try, was ever found upon him ; nor during his long and brilliant career was aught but 

 good proposed by or derived from his labors. 



That correct appreciation of the importance of good taste, which inspii'cs efforts for 

 its extensive cultivation and diffusion, and which is the paramount object of this Society 

 to effect, was in him a sti'ongly marked characteristic, and it yielded its appropriate fruits. 

 Among the choicest of these fruits are, a desire to benefit mankind, to diffuse a knowl- 

 edge of the best means for this end, and zealous effoi-ts in such a cause. 



F. Andre Michaux was the worthy son of a worthy father, in whose steps he trod 

 and overpassed. In the zeal with which his favorite science. Botany, inspired him, he 

 was led to visit America, and his magnificent works on its sylva, on its oaks, and its 

 pines, bear testimony, not only to his laborious diligence, and rigid investigation of syl- 

 van characteristics, but of the delight afforded him by the rich variety of interesting ob- 

 jects in the virgin forests of our fertile regions. 



To the world generally, but to his native land, especially, his life and laboi-s give valu- 

 able lessons on the importance of cultivating good taste, for a sad want of it is there dis- 

 played in the superior honors bestowed on those whose fame is founded on destruction, 

 to those bestowed on the patriots whose merit is the promotion of production. 



France can display a list of as brilliant and successful cultivators of sicence and the 

 liberal arts as any other country ; but of glory she gives them only the crumbs which fall 

 from the table of her military heroes. Napoleon, in his expedition to Egypt, and his 

 most honorable work, the compilation of a code of laws for his country, gave them some 

 of these cranibs in the style in which a Dives would give to a Lazarus, or a master fee- 

 stows favors onafiivorite slave. The world glorifies a BoNAPAJiTE ; the virtuous but lim- 



