306 



journey, he concluded to resign his office of Curator of the 

 Botanic Garden. During his short residence in our city, 

 preparatory to his arduous journey across the continent, he 

 was assiduously engaged at the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 studying Capt. Wyeth's plants, and preparing his memoir on 

 those which he had collected himself in the interior of Ar- 

 kansas. The result of these labors was the publication of 

 several valuable papers in the Journal of the Philadelphia 

 Academy of Natural Sciences: 1st. '^ A Catalogue of Plants 

 collected cliiefly in the Valleys of the Rocky Mou7itains, 

 towards the source of the Columbia River, by Nathan B. 

 Wyeth.'' 2d. " Collections toivards a Flora of the Territory 

 of Arkansas.'' 3d. '''Descriptions of some of the Rarer 

 Plants indigenous to the United States." 



Indeed, Mr. Nuttall was a most indefatigable laborer in 

 the domain of science. From morning until night, he was 

 seen working in the Academy, scarcely ever leaving his task 

 to attend to his meals. There, at that time, I made the ac- 

 quaintance of the great American botanist, — I say American, 

 because no other name could be given to him, his reputation 

 belonging to this continent, as he has specially been the 

 illustrator of the North American Flora, and of no other. 

 His appearance and manner made a lasting impression 

 upon those who approached him. He was a remarkable- 

 looking man: his head was very large, bald, and bore the 

 marks of a vigorous intellect ; his forehead expansive, but 

 his features diminutive, with a small nose, thin lips, and round 

 chin, and with gray eyes under fleshy eyebrows. His com- 

 plexion was fair, and sometimes very pale from hard labor 

 and want of exercise. His height was above the middle ; his 

 person stout, with a slight stoop ; and his walk peculiar and 

 mincing, resembling that of an Indian. 



Nuttall was naturally shy and reserved in his manners in 

 general society, but not so with those who knew him well. If 

 silent or perhaps morose in the presence of those for whom he 

 felt a sort of antipathy, yet, when with congenial companions, 

 he was affable and courteous, communicative and agreeable. 

 From long solitary study, the cast of his mind was contem- 



