6 The Life and Writings of 



The four years from 1792 to 1796 were passed in 

 residence with his mother near Leghorn, in Italy, whither 

 she had gone throngh fear connected with the excesses 

 of the French Revolution. He had previously been 

 taken to several other places by his parents, and this 

 fact, coupled with his later travels, gives the raison d^tre 

 of the French couplet which graces the title page of his 

 &quot;Life.&quot; It reads: 



&quot; Un voyageur des le berce&u, 

 Je le serais jusqrf au tombeau. . . .&quot; 



During his residence in Italy his education was di 

 rected by private teachers, and geometry, geography, 

 history, drawing and the English language engaged 

 his attention. He developed a taste for reading, and 

 found the greatest pleasure in books of travel, greedily 

 devouring them all. He declares, probably in hyperbole, 

 &quot; Before twelve years of age I had read the great Uni 

 versal history and one thousand volumes of books on 

 many pleasing or interesting subjects.&quot; It was while 

 he dwelt at Leghorn that he began regular herborizations, 

 in 1795, and commenced the formation of a herbal. 

 From what he himself relates it would appear that dur 

 ing this period he was allowed the fullest liberty and 

 gave full bent to his whims or wishes, and read and 

 studied what he pleased. He congratulates himself that 



