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112 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



omitted no opportunity of fostering his zeal, and of 

 endeavoring to extend his knowledge. He had constant 

 access to my house, and the benefit of my botanical books. 

 In 1810 I proposed to Mr. Nuttall the undertaking of 

 an expedition, entirely at my own expense and under my 

 immediate direction, to explore the botany, etc., of the 

 northern and northwestern parts of the United States and 

 the adjoining British territories." Nuttall set out on his 

 journey in April, 1810, ascending the Missouri with other 

 travelers, whose objects wxre principally traffic. Return- 

 ing, he reached St. Louis in the autumn of 1811. In the 

 latter end of the year 1811, Nuttall returned to England 

 from New Orleans. Previously to his departure he trans- 

 mitted to Dr. Barton a number of the dried specimens and 

 seeds which he had collected. 



' Dr. Barton had been from early life subject to hem- 

 orrhages. In a few years increasing ill-health decided him 

 to try a sea voyage. He accordingly sailed for France in 

 the spring of 1815, and returned in November of that year, 

 but without being much benefited. His condition became 

 rapidly worse after he landed, and on the morning of 

 December 19, 1815, he was found dead in bed. 



In 1797 Dr. Barton married a daughter of Mr. Edward 

 Pennington, of Philadelphia, who, with their only children, 

 a son and a daughter, survived him. He named his son 

 after Mr. Thomas Pennant, an English naturalist with 

 whom he became acquainted while a medical student. 



" In figure [Dr. Barton] was tall and exceedingly well 

 formed ; in middle life he might be considered as having 

 been handsome. His physiognomy was strongly expressive 

 of intelligence, and his eye was remarkably fine and 

 penetrating. 



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