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Biography of F. A. Michaux. 171 



^ seeds whicli lie had forwarded during liis absence, more than two 

 hundred and fifty thousand young trees had already spruTig up, 

 which Avere fairly promising to accomplish, in succeedijig times, 

 the objects contemplated by him, and confidently expected by 

 his fellow members of the Society of Agriculture, w^ho appointed 

 a committee to report on the success of his voyage. Correa de 

 Serra, chairman of tliat committee, in a most flattering report, 

 highly complimented Michaux on the faithful execution of his 

 trust, and for the importance of the services he had rendered to 

 his country, he called forth a vote of thanks. 



^ During the two years following his return, Michaux was ac- 

 tii^ely employed in the publication of his great work: ^^Histoire 

 des Arhres Forestiers de VAmenque du 'Nord/^ so anxiously ex- 

 pected by all who took an interest in the Flora of the United 

 States, and in the observations of one so well versed in agricul- 

 tural pursuits. The first volume appeared in 1810; the second, 

 in 1812, and the third, in 1813. 



^ This magnificent work, illustrated by 144 copper plates, de- 

 signed by the two Redoute and by Bessa, and engraved by such 

 eminent artists as Gabriel, Renard, Boquet, Bessin, andDuoreuil, 

 was translated into English by Augustas L. Hillhouse, Esq., and 

 published in Paris in foar volumes by Charles D'Hautel (1817- 

 1819) under the title of ^^ North American Sylva^''^ with the addi- 

 tion of several plates and some new observations by the author. 

 Mr. Wm. Maclure purchased the plates in Paris, and brought 

 them to this country. To this circumstance is owing the publi- 

 cation of two American editions, w^hich are likely, soon, to be 

 followed by a third. The first, was issued at New Harmony, 

 Indiana, 1842, and the second in this city, in 1852, with notes 

 bj J. J; Smith, Esq. Mr. Nuttall, soon after, published, on 

 Michaux's plan, an additional Sylva Americana^ describing and 

 illustrating as many as one hundred and twenty trees, mostly 

 unknown to his predecessor, indigenous to the far west regions,. 

 Oregon q.nd Calilbruia included. 



Of thig splendid work of Michaux, the author of an article on 

 the botany of the United States, published m the thirteenth vol- 

 ume of the North American Review, remarks : ■*' It is the plan of 

 Michaux's history of our forest trees, to unite the advantages of 

 a work strictly botanical and one relating to the useful arts; but, 

 especially, to collect all the scattered details which books or ex- 

 perience could furnish him, with respect to the application of 

 various kinds of woods to the purposes of life. Botanical de- 

 scriptions can easily be made or found ; but, in order to ascertain: 

 their useful properties, it was necessary to consult artisans in 

 almost every branch of practical mechanics, to frequent dock- 

 yards and work-shops in which wood was employed, and in short, 

 to gather information from Qyery attainable source- From these 



