400 PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



Mitten is instructed to prepare a set of mosses for him. A 

 noble fellow is Sullivant, and deserves all you say of him 

 and his works. The more you get to know of him the better 

 you will like him." And when, in 1877, he gave to Mr. Bur- 

 gess, since famous as a designer of yachts, a note of introduc- 

 tion to Charles Darwin, Gray wrote: " He has just married the 

 daughter of my dear old friend, the late Mr. Sullivant, who 

 did for muscology in this country more than one man is 

 likely ever to do again." 



Prof. Gray said of him in the memoir already quoted, and 

 which has supplied the facts for a large part of this article : 

 " In personal appearance and carriage, no less than in all the 

 traits of an unselfish and well-balanced character, Mr. Sulli- 

 vant was a fine specimen of a man. He had excellent busi- 

 ness talents, and was an exemplary citizen ; he had a refined 

 and sure taste, and was an accomplished draughtsman. But 

 after having illustrated his earlier productions with his own 

 pencil, he found that valuable time was to be gained by em- 

 ploying a trained artist. He discovered in Mr. A. Schrader a 

 hopeful draughtsman, and he educated him to the work, with 

 what excellent results the plates of the Icones and of his other 

 works abundantly show. As an investigator he worked de- 

 liberately, slowly indeed and not continuously, but persever- 

 ingly. Having chosen his particular department, he gave him- 

 self undeviatingly to its advancement. His works have laid 

 such a broad and complete foundation for the study of bry- 

 ology in this country, and are of such recognised importance 

 everywhere, that they must always be of classical authority ; 

 in fact, they are likely to remain for a long time unrivalled. 

 Wherever mosses are studied his name will be honourably re- 

 membered; in this country it should long be remembered with 

 peculiar gratitude." 



The following extract from a letter written immediately 

 after Sullivant's death to Mr. Joseph Sullivant by Leo Les- 

 quereux will be interesting : 



" In everything, as well you know, W. S. S. was most accu- 

 rate. He was superficial in nothing. He worked his mosses 

 slowly, coming again and again to a doubtful species, compar- 

 ng authorities, repeating the most difficult anatomical prepar- 

 ations, till fully satisfied that his conclusions were warranted 

 as far as botanical science could warrant them. The numer- 



