MEMOIR OF THOMAS SAY. XI. 



Florida, then under the dominion of Spain, for the purpose 

 of studying the natural history of those interesting regions.* 

 This journey, although productive of much valuable infor- 

 mation, was shortened, in consequence of the hostilities which 

 still existed between the people of the United States and 

 the native tribes of Florida ; the Spanish Governor of which 

 territory having kindly advised the exploring party to return, 

 as it would not be in his power to afford them any assist- 

 ance, in the event of an attack by the Indians. 



Of the two scientific expeditions fitted out by order of 

 the government of the United States, and commanded by 

 Major Long, the department of chief Zoologist was allotted 

 to Mr. Say ; whose numerous discoveries have since been re- 

 corded in works which need not be named here, as the stu- 

 dents of natural history are familiar with them. 



We come now to the crisis of Mr. Say's life, the termina- 

 tion of his labours in his native city. In the year 1825, he 

 was induced to accompany Messieurs Maclure and Owen to 

 their settlement in Indiana, where the sum of human happi- 

 ness, it was believed, would be exalted ; and where science 

 and letters, it was confidently affirmed, would soon arise, 

 like the orient sun, to enlighten our benighted western world. 

 But had these zealots allowed themselves time to reflect upon 

 the nature of man, before they commenced their plans of 

 reform, they would have perceived that all schemes to coun- 

 teract the order of society are as ineffective as attempts 

 would be to subvert the order of nature. This truth soon 

 became manifest, for in a few short months the confraternity 

 of New Harmony disagreed, quarrelled, and separated. 

 Even the founders of the Institution got into the labyrinth 

 of the law, from which they were extricated by a compromise. 

 One returned to his native country, to concoct new measures 

 for the reformation of domestic policy ; and the other re- 

 tired in disgust to the republic of Mexico, to brood over 



* The party consisted of Messrs. Maclure, Say, Titian R. Peale, and 

 the writer of this memoir. 



