DAVID HOSACK IOI 



night and you must not fail to come.' On my 

 arrival .... I was surprised to find a large 

 assembly of gentlemen and ladies, the former in- 

 cluding eminent artists, scientists, and authors, 

 to many of whom I was presented by the host. 

 .... The menu embraced every available deli- 

 cacy, and the wines were of the best quality." 



His love of botany led to his founding the 

 Elgin Botanic Garden in 1801, about three and 

 one-half miles from the city of New York, 

 modelling his twenty acres, perhaps, on the plan 

 of those he had seen in London. The expenses 

 were defrayed from his own pocket, including 

 those for a fine conservatory for tropical plants. 

 He had under cultivation nearly 1500 American 

 plants, besides exotics. I expect his floral god- 

 child, Hosackia bicolor, named after him by 

 Douglas, the botanist, was there; also a budding 

 hope, which never came to fruition, for Hosack 

 had imagined the state would take the whole 

 thing over and make it a miniature Jardin des 

 Plantes. They did buy it, but like many similar 

 investments, it was suffered to go to ruin. Im- 

 agine Hosack slowly pacing the walks, stopping 

 to adjust a trailer, to nip a dead blossom, his 

 mind full of plans for the various societies of 

 which he was indeed an " active ' member and 

 originator. The Historical, Horticultural and 

 New York Literary Societies and the Medical 



