142 Memorandums of the Life and Writings 



place?" On being answered that it was found in that 

 very spot, he would add, that it was called by the In- 

 dians (I have been told) so and so; by them used for 

 such and such purposes, and may be found described 

 in such a class of Linnaeus. And sometimes I have 

 heard him say, it was described by Theophrastus, and 

 called, by him, by such a name, in Greek. And such 

 was his desire to obtain a complete knowledge of the 

 plants of Virginia, that, notwithstanding his great par- 

 simony, he would offer a reward for any discovery of 

 a plant unknown to him. There seemed to be no part 

 of the learning of his day (I mean about the year 1773) 

 unknown to him; and he had a high relish for witty 

 conversation, and classical allusions, which his son the 

 doctor, and Mr. Fontaine, the minister of his parish, 

 often highly gratified. 



Mr. Clayton " was a strict, though not ostentatious, 

 observer of the practice of the church of England; and 

 seemed constantly piously disposed. I have heard him 

 say, whilst examining a flower, that he could not look 

 into one, without seeing the display of infinite power 

 and contrivance; and that he thought it impossible for 

 a BOTANIST to be an atheist*." 



Mr. Jefferson has spoken of Clayton as a native of 

 Virginia. " This accurate observer (says the Pre- 

 sident) was a native and resident of this state, passed 



* Letter (diittd Richmond, January I8lh, 1805) to the Editor, 

 from his excellency John Page, Escj., governor of Virginia. 



