PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



sented on it, as two natural features most characteristically 

 American. 



After the failure of the New Harmony colony, Lesueur con- 

 tinued to reside at the settlement for several years, the com- 

 panionship of Thomas Say largely reconciling him to his 

 surroundings, and its loss at Say's death, in 1834, being keenly 

 felt. Three years later Lesueur sailed from New Orleans for 

 France, where, according to Swainson, he earned a precarious 

 livelihood as a teacher of painting. 



Fortunately this sketch can be enriched by the most valu- 

 able of original documents concerning Lesueur. This is a per- 

 sonal letter from the late Prof. Richard Owen, whose early life 

 was spent at New Harmony, to Prof. Jordan, his successor in 

 the chair of Biology in the University of Indiana. 



Prof. Owen writes as follows under date of December 14, 

 1886: 



"Charles A. Lesueur was, when I knew him in 1828, about 

 fifty to fifty-five years of age, tall, rather spare in muscle, but 

 hardy and enduring. He permitted his beard to grow, which 

 at that time was quite unusual ; hence he sometimes platted it 

 and tucked it almost out of sight when he went from home. In 

 New Harmony he usually went barenecked, often bareheaded, 

 and in summer occasionally barefooted, or at least without 

 socks. His hair had been dark, but was sprinkled (as well as 

 his beard) with gray. His manner and movements were quick ; 

 his fondness for natural history (as it was then called) led him 

 to hunt and fish a good deal. 



" In summer he was fond of swimming in the Wabash, and 

 I frequently accompanied him. He instructed me how to feel 

 with my feet for Unios and other shells as we waded some- 

 times up to our necks in the river or ponds, searching to add 

 to our collections. When he went fishing with others he always 

 exchanged his fine common fishes for the smallest and to them 

 most indifferent-looking, when he recognised some new species 

 or even variety. This item I have from Mr. Sampson, who is 

 well acquainted with the fish of the Wabash, but who confesses 

 he could see no difference in many caught until Mr. Lesueur, 

 who at once detected that difference, had pointed it out. 



" He was temperate and active in all his habits, smoking 

 being the only objectionable habit in which he indulged. His 

 temper was quick and used to call out an occasional " God 



