SKETCH OF BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON. 837 



man of science. For three years in succession, "beginning with 

 1797, he was chosen to deliver the annual oration. 



In his youth Dr. Barton had suffered the discomforts and 

 hindrances of poverty and the persecutions of those who bore 

 him ill will. But it was not many years before the income from 

 his lectures and his books had lifted him above the influence of 

 want. 



Being prevented by his professional engagements from mak- 

 ing explorations in search of plants and other objects of natural 

 history, he employed others to collect for him, advancing his 

 favorite sciences by this means. Frederick Pursh, in his Flora 

 America, Septentrionalis (London, 1814), describes an excursion 

 that he was enabled to take by the aid of Prof. Barton. Starting 

 in the beginning of 1805, he went along the mountain chain of 

 Virginia and the Carolinas, and returned through the coast lands, 

 reaching Philadelphia late in the autumn. Similar assistance 

 was extended to Thomas Nuttall, " whose zeal and services," to 

 use the words of Dr. Barton, "have contributed essentially to 

 extend our knowledge of the northwestern and western flora of 

 North America, and to whom the work of Frederick Pursh is 

 under infinite obligations." Pursh himself gives due credit for 

 Nuttall's contributions. A genus of plants (resembling cactus), 

 first described by them, was named Bartonia, in honor of " their 

 mutual friend Dr. B. S. Barton." In a paper written by Dr. 

 Barton, a few days before his death, he says of Nuttall : 



" I became acquainted with this young Englishman in Phila- 

 delphia several years ago ; and observing in him an ardent attach- 

 ment to and some knowledge of botany, I 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 botan- 

 ical 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 north- 

 western parts of the United States and the adjoining British ter- 

 ritories." Dr. Barton further relates that Nuttall set out on this 

 journey in April, 1810, but he deviated from the route which had 

 been pointed out to him, having been prevailed upon to ascend 

 the Missouri with other travelers, whose objects were principally 

 traffic. Returning, he reached St. Louis in the autumn of 1811. 

 " In the latter end of the year 1811, Mr. Nuttall returned to Eng- 

 land by the way of New Orleans. Previously to his departure he 

 transmitted to me a number of the dried specimens and seeds 

 which he had collected." It was on this trip that Nuttall found 

 two species of the genus that he named Bartonia, descriptions 

 and specimens of which he furnished to his patron. 



