108 SOME AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANISTS 



appointed surgeon-botanist (if such a term may 

 be used) to the frigate Congress, then under 

 weigh for an expedition to Buenos Ayres and 

 other South American ports, there to investigate 

 conditions among the Spanish colonists, and the 

 " vegetable products." He writes to Darlington 

 on the eve of departure : 



''Although the state of my health is not such as 

 to render my situation alarming, yet--as life 

 under any circumstances is uncertain- -there can 

 be no harm in just mentioning that, in case I 

 should never return, I leave all my botanical con- 

 cerns to you, who, with the aid of Z. Collins, 

 must make the best of them." 



He returned in 1818 rather better in health, 

 and with a fine store of specimens for his friends, 

 and a partly completed catalogue of them. His 

 time, when at Wilmington, was chiefly occupied 

 in describing his treasuresa description never 

 completed, resulting in two papers, 1 one in the 

 American Journal of Science, 1819, one in The 

 American Philosophical Transactions, 1819. His 

 popularity with the government as a wholly trust- 

 worthy servant was shown in his appointment 

 (1819) as surgeon and botanist, to go with Major 

 Long up the river Missouri, a most unfortunate 

 voyage from every point of view, judging from 



1 An Account of two North American Species of Rottboellia discov- 

 ered on the sea-coast of Georgia, 1819. An Account of two North 

 American species of Cyperus from Georgia, etc. 



