264 Nations lately become Literary. [Cii. XXVI. 



public attention to the objects which he pursued. 

 And although to the last he adhered to a system of 

 doctrines which a great majority of chemists con- 

 sider as erroneous, yet his numerous experiments 

 and publications on the subject after he resided 

 in the United States, have contributed to excite a 

 spirit of inquiry, and to improve the public taste 

 for chemical philosophy. 



The votaries of Natural History in the United 

 States, though not numerous, are respectable, 

 and have rendered important services to this 

 branch of science. Beside those of this class 

 whose names were mentioned in preceding pages, 

 a {^w others are entitled to particular notice.. 

 The rev. Dr. Cutler, Mr. Peck, and Dr. Water- 

 house, of Massachusetts ; Dr. Mitchill of New 

 York ; the rev. Dr. Muhlenberg, and Mr. Mar- 

 shall, of Pennsylvania; and Mr. Walter * of South 

 Carolina, are all advantageously known by their 

 publications on different branches of natural his- 

 tory. But, among the natural historians now 

 living in the United States, professor Barton of 

 Philadelphia undoubtedly holds the first rank. 

 His various works evince a closeness of observa- 

 tion, an accuracy of inquiry, an extent of learn- 

 ing, and a vigour and comprehensiveness of 



•^ Thomas Walter was a native of England, a man of liberal 

 education, and much devoted to botany. He settled in South 

 Carolina, a few miles from the city of Charleston, where he re- 

 sided a number of years as a planter, and where he died towards 

 the close of the eighteenth century. He published his Flora 

 Caroliniana in 1788. He introduced a new species of grass, 

 from which much was expected j but it did not stand the test of 

 time. 



