522 HUMPHRY MARSHALL [1785. 



HUMPHRY MARSHALL TO DR. FRANKLIN. 



West Bradford, 5th of the 12th mo., 1785. 



Respected Friend : 



I congratulate thee on thy appointment to the station of Presi- 

 dent of the State of Pennsylvania;* and hope thou will be of con- 

 siderable service, in that public office, by thy deliberate and wise 

 counsels. And if the multiplicity of the business concerning 

 the government of the state should admit of any spare hours, 

 I had it in contemplation to mention to thee for thy appro- 

 bation, or sentiments thereon, a proposal that I had made, 

 last winter, to my cousin, Wm. Bartram, and nephew, Dr. Moses 

 Marshall, of taking a tour, mostly through the western parts of 

 our United States, in order to make observations, &c, upon the 

 natural productions of those regions ; with a variety of which, 

 hitherto unnoticed, or but imperfectly described, we have reason to 

 belfeve they abound ; which, on consideration, they at that time 

 seemed willing to undertake, and I conceive would be so still, pro- 

 vided they should meet with proper encouragement and support 

 for such a journey ; which they judge would be attended with con- 

 siderable expense, for the transportation of their collections, &c, 

 and for their subsistence during a period of fifteen or eighteen 

 months, or more, which would at least be necessary for the comple- 

 tion of the numerous observations, and objects they would have to 

 make remarks on, and collect. Should such proposals be properly 

 encouraged, I apprehend they would engage to set out early in the 

 spring, and throughout their journey make diligent search and 

 strict observation upon everything within the province of a natu- 

 ralist ; but more especially upon Botany, for the exercise of which 

 there appears, in such a journey, a most extensive field ; for, from 

 accounts of our western territories, they are said to abound with 

 varieties of strange trees, shrubs, and plants, no doubt applicable 



* Doctor Franklin received this appointment, immediately after his return 

 from France, where he had been residing for several years, as Minister Plenipo- 

 tentiary of the United States. This prompt and earnest appeal, in behalf of the 

 interests of Natural Science, at so early a period in the history of this Republic, 

 while it demonstrates the forecast and expanded views of Humphry Marshall, 

 does equal honour to the venerable statesman and philosopher to whom it is ad- 

 dressed, by the implied confidence in his liberality and public spirit. 



