BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OP THE LATE F. A. MICHAUX. 



in his arduous task. During his residence lie formed many valuable acquaintances 

 Besides the late Muhlenberg, Hamilton, Barton, Ilosack, Alex. Wilson, Eddy, 

 &c., he was on terms of friendship with others still living, among whom I may 

 mention Dr. John W. Francis, of New York, and Major Leconte. Michauxwas 

 elected a Member of the American Philosophical Society on the 21st of April, 

 1809 ; and we have a proof of the value in which he held this honor, by the hand- 

 some provision made in favor of this institution, in his testament, bearing date 

 of May 30th, 1852. 



I should fail in my duty towards one who was the companion and helpmate of 

 the two Michaux, if I omitted here to mention his name. This is the humble 

 Paul Saulnier, the same journeyman gardener who, in 1785, had accompanied 

 them to this country, and was intrusted with the care of the New Jersey nursery. 

 Franpois Michaux never spoke of him but with feelings of respect and affection. 



"Originally of France," says Dr. Francis, in his eloquent discourse on the 

 Natural Sciences, "his early life was absorbed in practical horticulture, as an ex- 

 perimenter in vegetable physiology, and as one of the subordinates of the Jardin 

 des Plantes. Here he had instilled into him the principles of ordines nuturales, 

 by their author, de Jussieu. Shortly after he was selected for his botanical at- 

 tainments to accompany the elder Michaux to this country. He proved service- 

 able as a collector. By royal means, Louis XVI., by whose patronage Michaux 

 was authorized to procure American productions, a plot of ground in New Jersey 

 was appropriated as a suitable garden for rearing and preserving plants and trees, 

 mainly designed for the institutions of France. 



"In this sequestered place, Paul, with the exception of occasional excursions 

 to New York and to parts adjacent, passed the remainder of his days. Here he 

 was visited by the younger Michaux, Pursh, Douglas, Bradbury, and other foreign 

 naturalists. Poor Wilson, the Ornithologist, often found shelter within his humble 

 dwelling from the lowering sky and tempestuous storms; and often I have heard 

 Michaux enlarge on the refreshing enjoyment of Paul's hospitality. Paul was a 

 sort of Sir Oracle with them ; and his responses were heeded by all who sought 

 practical knowledge in natural history. Paul, I believe, maybe estimated the first, 

 as to time, who, without much pretension, inculcated among us the classification 

 of Jussieu, and the arboriculturist may perhaps be now, for the first time, informed 

 that to him are we to assign the introduction into this country of the Lombardy 

 Poplar. Paul holds a place in the progess of botanical pursuits not unlike that 

 enjoyed so long by the venerable Wra. Bartram, though I should be reluctant to 

 assign to him a place as conspicuous as that of our philosophical traveller. 



" Let Michaux speak of the goodness of his heart and of his disinterested 

 philanthropy: 'Paul was so exclusive in his attentions to his avocations, that 

 hardly any other subject than trees and plants ever found entrance into his mind. 

 To the day of his death, he considered his little circumscribed residence as still 

 the property of his royal master; and, ignorant of the vicissitudes of political 

 revolution, reluctantly gave credence to the fact of the decapitation of his bounti- 

 ful but unfortunate King. Paul now lies in the Hackensack churchyard ; his 

 tombstone records not half his excellence.' " 



On Michaux's return to Paris, he presented himself before the Central Society 

 of Agriculture, to which he was mainly indebted for his mission to the United 

 States, and there gave an account of his voyage, of the various tasks he had per- 

 formed, and of the flattering results which had been already obtained. From the 

 seeds which he had forwarded during his absence, more than two hundred and 

 fifty thousand young trees had already sprung up, which were fairly promisi 

 accomplish, in succeeding times, the objects contemplated by him, and confide 



