BIOORArniCAL MK.MDIU t)F THE LATK F, A. MICIIAL'X. 



needed activity, and change of scene, with its toils and perils. Both were ani- 

 mated with the same spirit of enterprise — with the same conviction that their 

 efforts, employed in other directions, could afford more benefit to their country; 

 hence they were endcavorinj;, through the induence of their numerous friends, to 

 infuse their views and jirdjects into the minds of their fellow-members of the Cen- 

 tral Society of Agriculture, and of the ministers of Naj)uleon, then First Consul 

 of the French republic. 



In this they both limilly succeeded. The elder Michaux accepted a commission 

 of naturalist in the scientific expedition led by Cai)tain IJaudin, and bound to the 

 Australian seas, on condition, however, that he would be ])ermitted to remain at 

 the Isle of France, if he desired so to do. Disgusted with JJaudin's haughty man- 

 ners and want of courtesy to the scientific corps, Andre Miehaux abandoned the 

 expedition at Mauritius, where he remained six months, and thence started for the 

 island of Madagascar, which, he thought, would afford him better opportunities of 

 advancing the science of botany, and making himself more useful to his country. 

 After sundry explorations along the coast, he established a botanical garden at 

 Tametave, in which he planted all the trees and plants which might be objects of 

 usefulness or curiosity. The climate, unfortunately, was exceedingly unhealthy, 

 and, trusting too much to his good constitution and habits of exposure, he neglected 

 the proper precautious, was taken sick with fever, and died at the end of Decem- 

 ber, 1803. 



Francois Andre Michaux, on his own account, had not remained inactive. 

 Aroused by the example of his parent, and now fully arrived at manhood, he 

 could not look back to the unfinished work of his father in the United States 

 without becoming alive to the most ardent desire to achieve the object which they 

 had both in view. Conversant with several States of the Union, confident in his 

 own experience and abilities further to serve his countr}', he was, on his side, 

 earnestly soliciting a commission to the United States. 



This opportunity was at last afforded to him through the celebrated De Chaptal, 

 then Minister of the Interior, who, feeling dissatisfied with the result of the nurse- 

 ries of New Jersey and Charleston since the departure of the elder Michaux, and 

 thinking more benefit would accrue from the appointment of native correspondents 

 in the principal seaports of the Union, consulted Frau9ois A. Michaux in the 

 matter, and appointed him to effect those objects. He gave him instructions, at 

 the same time, to sell the properties when he had forwarded home all the trees and 

 shrubs remaining in the two French nurseries above mentioned. 



Michaux, highly gratified, set out immediately for IJordeaux, at which port he 

 embarked for Charleston, with the same captain and on the same vessel that had 

 brought him home thence, some ten years previous. After a short and pleasant 

 passage, he landed at his place of destination on the 9th of October, 1801. He 

 occupied himself almost immediately, and during the following winter, in sending 

 to France the trees and shrubs of the nursery ; and this part of his instructions 

 being fulfilled, he embarked for New York on the same errand. 



As soon as the season became favorable, he began his herborizations in New 

 Jersey and along the banks of the North lliver. In these explorations he dis- 

 covered several new species of oaks and hickories, the acorns and nuts of which 

 he sent to France in abundance. He had also the opportunity of determining 

 with more accuracy the botanical characters of the black oak (Quercus tinctoria), 

 one of the largest trees of the American forests, and also one of the most valuable 

 for the quality of its wood, as well as for its dyeing properties. 



He next visited Philadelphia, where he had the pleasure of becoming acquainted 

 with some of her most celebrated men, among whom he mentions the Rev. Dr. 



