Nations lately become Literary. 367 



study of Botany, and made important contribu- 

 tions towards a knowledge of American plants; 

 especially of that part of America which was in 

 the vicinity of his residence. Mr. John Bar- 

 tram/ of Pennsylvania, was the first native Ame- 

 rican who conceived and carried into effect the 

 plan of a Botanic Garden/ for the reception and 

 cultivation of indigenous as well as exotic plants, 

 and of travelling for the purpose of accomplishing 

 this plan. He did much to explore the natural his- 

 tory of his native country. Dr. John Mitchell," 



s Mr. John Bartram was born near Darby, in Chester County, 

 Pennsylvania, in the year 1701. His grandfather, of the same name, 

 had come to the Colony in 1682, with the celebrated William Penn. 

 This self-taught genius early discovered a great thirst for the acquisition 

 of knowledge, and especially of botanical knowledge. He travelled in 

 pursuit of it with unwearied diligence, in various parts of his native 

 country, from Canada to Florida, and made such proficiency in the studr, 

 that Linnjeus is said to have pronounced him the "greatest natural bo- 

 tanist in the world." He corresponded with many of the most distin- 

 guished men of science, both in America and in Europe. He was elected 

 a member of several of the most eminent Societies and Academies abroad ; 

 and was, at length, appointed Botanist to his Britannic Majesty George 

 III. He died in 1777, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. 



t It cannot be said, that Mr. Bartram formed a Botanic Garden, in 

 the scientific sense of the expression ; but he made a large and valuable 

 collection of plants, on his farm near Philadelphia, which his sons have 

 kept up to the present day. 



v Dr. John Mitchell, who was mentioned in a former chapter, as 

 having come from England to Virginia early in the last century, appears 

 to have been a man of observation, acuteness, and enterprize, as well as 

 cf learning. His residence in Virginia was chiefly at Urbanna, a small 

 town on the Rappahannock, about seventy-three miles from Richmond. 

 He was a great Botanist, and seems to have paid particular attention 

 to the Hybrid productions. He wrote an useful work on the general prin- 

 ciples of Botany, and containing descriptions of a number of new genera, 

 of plants, which was published in 4io. in 1769. He also wrote, in 1743, 

 an " Essay on the Causes if the different Colours of People in differ nit Cli- 

 mates," which was sent over to Mr. Colli nson, and published in the 

 Philosophical Transactions, vol. xliii. p. 102 — 150. Besides these, he pub- 

 lished an " Essay on the Preparations and Uses of the various Kinds of 

 Pot-Ashy Philosophical Transactions, vol. xlv. p. 541 — 563 ; and a " Letter 

 concerning the Force of Electrical Cohesion." Philosophical Transactions, 

 vol. li. p 390. See Pulteney's Sketches of the Progress of Botany, &c. vol. ii. 

 p. 278, &c. It is believed the same man was the author of the Map of 

 North-America, published in 1755, which he accompanied with a large 

 Pamphlet, entitled, " The Contest in America;" and soon followed by 

 another Pamphlet, entitled, " The Present State of Great-Britain and 

 North-America" 1767. See American Husbandry, &c. vol. i.. p. 285. 



