u JUcount of Joseph ilombejj, the Botanist. 



"Must I call madness or reason that desire which allures ns to seek and 

 examine plants? If I look back on the fate of naturalist*, I am persuaded that 

 the irresistible attractions of nature alone can induce us to face such dangers 

 and troubles. No science had ever so many martyrs as natural history." 



Lanuan. 



HE priiice of botanists did not speak un- 

 advisedly when be uttered these memo- 

 rable words. Long indeed is the roll-call 

 of those who have fallen a sacrifice in 

 this cause ; and among them all, no name better 

 deserves honourable remembrance than that of the 

 French botanist and traveller, Joseph Dombey. 

 The career of this individual, though full of roman- 

 tic and touching interest, is comparatively little 

 known, and I feel persuaded that a slight sketch 

 of it will be acceptable to the reader. 



He was born at Macon in 1742, and his parents 

 were in humble circumstances, but did their best 

 to give him a good education. Their cares, how- 

 ever, seemed at first to be but ungratefully repaid, 



