170 Biography of F. A. Michaux. 



"Originally of France," says Dr. Francis in his eloq-uent dis- 

 course on the Natural Sciences, "liis early life was absorbed in 

 practical horticulture, as an experimenter in vegetable physiol- 

 ogy, and as one of the subordinates of the Jardiu des Plantes. 

 Here, he had instilled into him the principles of the ordines natu- 

 raleSy by their author, de Jussieu, Shortly after, he was selected 

 for his botanical attainments, to accompany the elder Michaux to 

 this country. He proved serviceable as a collector. By royal 

 means, Louis XVI, by whose patronage Michaux was author- 

 ized to procure American productions, a plot of ground in New 

 Jersey was appropriated as a suitable garden for rearing and pre- 

 serving plants and trees, mainly designed for the institjitions of 

 France. 



In this sequestered place, Paul, with the exception of occa- 

 sional excursions to New York and to parts adjacent, passed the 

 remainder of his days. Here he was visited by the younger 

 Hichaux, Pursh, Douglas, Bradbury and other foreign natural- 

 ists who reached our shores. Poor Wilson, the Ornithologist, 

 often found shelter within his humble dwelling from the lower- 

 ing sky and tempestuous storms, and often I have heard Michaux 

 enlarge on the refreshing enjoyment of Paul's hospitality. Paul 

 was a sort of Sir Oracle with them; and his responses were 

 heeded by all who sought practical knowledge in natural history. 

 Paul, I believe, may be estimated the first, as to time, who with- 

 out much pretension, inculcated among us the classification of 

 Jussieu; and the arboriculturist may perhaps be now, for the first 

 time, informed^ that to him are ^vc to assign the introduction into 

 this country of the Lombardy poplar. Paul holds a place in the 

 progress of botanical pursuits not unlike that enjoyed so long by 

 the venerable Wm, Bartram, though I should be reluctant to 

 assign to him a place as conspicuous as that of our philosophical 

 traveller. 



Let Michaux speak of the goodness of his heart and of his 

 disinterested philanthrophy; ^'Paulwa^ so exclusive in his at- 

 tentions to his avocations, that hardly any other subject than 

 trees and plants ever found entrance into his mind. To the day 

 of his death, he considered his little circumscribed residence as 

 Btill the property of his royal master; and ignorant of the vicis- 

 situdes of political revolution, reluctantly gave credence to the 

 fact of the decapitation of his bountiful, but unfortunate King- 

 Paul now lies in the Hackensack churchyard; his tomb-stone 

 records not half his excellence." 



On Michaux's return to Paris, he presented himself before the 

 Central Society of Agriculture, to which he was mainly indebted 

 for his mission to the United States, and there gave an account 

 of his voyage, of the various tasks he had performed, and of the 

 flattering results which had been already obtained: — From the 



