20 PROGRESS OF BOTANY 



Newburgh.* He corresponded much with the distinguished natu- 

 ralists of Europe, and communicated to them his discoveries. 



At that sylvan retreat, and in the delightful recreation afforded 

 by botanical research amid the cares of his public employments, 

 Doctor Colden found a companion and assistant, worthy of special 

 commemoration, in his accomplished daughter. Doctor Garden, 

 writing to Doctor Colden, November 4, 1754, says: "I shall be 

 glad to hear of Miss Colden's improvements, which no doubt in- 

 crease every day, and may we again be surprised with more than 

 a Dacier, even in America." In a letter to Linnaeus, dated 

 London, May 12, 1756, Peter Collinson says : " I but lately 

 heard from Mr. Colden. He is well ; but, what is marvellous, his 

 daughter is perhaps the first lady that has so perfectly studied your 

 system. She deserves to be celebrated." And in another, dated 

 April 30, 1758, he says: "Last week, my friend, Mr. Ellis, wrote 

 you a letter, recommending a curious botanic dissertation, by Miss 

 Jane Colden. As this accomplished lady is the only one of the 

 fair sex that I have heard of, who is scientifically skilful in the 

 Linnrean system, you no doubt will distinguish her merits, and 

 recommend her example to the ladies of every country." 



That eminent naturalist, John Ellis, in a letter to LiNNiEUS 

 (just referred to), dated London, April 25, 1758, says : " Mr. 

 Colden of New York has sent Dr. Fotiiergill a new plant, de- 

 scribed by his daughter. It is called Fibraurea, Gold Thread" 

 [Helleborus trifolius, L. Coptis trifolia, 8alisb.~\. " This young 

 lady merits your esteem, and does honour to your system. She has 

 drawn and described 400 plants in your method only : she uses 

 English terms. Her father has a plant called after him, Coldenia ; 

 suppose you should call this Coldenetta, or any other name that 

 might distinguish her among your genera." 



LiNNiEUS, however, referred the plant to his genus Helleborus; 

 and when it was subsequently ascertained to be distinct, Salisbury, 

 regardless alike of gallantry and justice imposed upon it the name 

 of Coptis. 



* "The earliest treatise on the Botany of New York," says Dr. Torrey, in his 

 preface to the Flora of that state, "that has come under my observation, is the 

 ' Plantce Coldenhamice' of Governor Colden, published in the Acts of the Royal 

 Society of Upsal for the year 1744. It is an account of the plants growing spon- 

 taneously in the neighbourhood of Coldenhain, in Orange County, and embraces 

 only the first twelve classes of the Linnaean system. The second part was (I be- 

 lieve) never published." 



