23 



I have visited. Many of the shells herein de- 

 scribed, I procured during a residence of six months 

 at Claiborne, a village on the Alabama river, beauti- 

 fully situated on an abrupt bluff, two hundred feet in 

 elevation, and whose base is shaded by the ever- 

 green magnolia, and the umbrella tree, with its gigan- 

 tic leaves. In company with the kindest friends 

 which it has been my lot to meet with in my pilgrim- 

 age through life, Charles Tait, Esq. and Mrs. Tait, 

 whom I must always remember with feelings akin to 

 filial attachment, time passed rapidly and agreeably 

 away. May the evening of life be calm and serene, 

 and, as the meridian w^as passed in exertions honour- 

 able to himself and useful to his country, my friend 

 needs no eulogium from a humble votary of Natural 

 Science. To John B. Toulmin, Esq. of Mobile, I 

 return my thanks for his hospitahty and disinterest- 

 ed exertions in my behalf I shall also ever remem- 

 ber my kind friend. Dr. Robert Withers, of Greene 

 county. Major Chamberlain and Judge Harris, of 

 St. Stephens, and many other gentlemen in various 

 parts of Alabama. Mr. A. H. Gazzam, of Mobile, 

 sent me a flattering letter, offering me, as a mission- 

 ary in the cause of science, a free passage in his 

 steamboats on the waters of Alabama, a privilege 

 which has never been extended for a similar purpose 

 to an individual in any other state in the Union. 



