17G Biography of F. A. Michaux. 



his death, some unpiiblislied papers, among -whicli is probably 

 the memoir alluded to in his last communication to the Presi- 

 dent of the American Philosophical Society. This communica- 

 tion dated, as I have said above, Va ureal near Pontoise, October 

 24th, 1852, was particularly intended to inform the President 

 and his fellow-members that, desirous of giving the American 

 nation a testimonial of his heartfelt gratitude for the hospitality 

 and assistance which his father and himself had received in this 

 country, during the course of their long and toilsome journeys, 

 he had made testamentary provisions in favor of the Society, 

 with the view to afford the means of promoting the progress of 

 the science of Sylviculture in the United States. 



This testament which Michaux had intrusted to the care of a 

 gentleman of this city, Mr. Isaac Lea, whom he had consulted 

 in the matter, was deposited four years ago in the archives of 

 the Philosophical Society; but was not to be opened until after 

 his death. ThisAvas done, consequently, on the 20th of October 

 last, by the Recorder of Wills of the city of Philadelphia, By 

 this document, he bequaths to the American Philosophical Soci- 

 ety, the sum of fourteen thousand dollars, for special purposes 

 connected with the particular object of his const-mt aspiration, 

 *'The progress of agriculture with reference to the propagation 

 of useful forest trees." By the same instrument, he likewise 

 endows the Society of Agriculture and Arts of Boston, with the 

 sum of eight thousand dollars for similar purposes, 



Michaux's demise was made known to the American public 

 by Prof. Asa Gray in the columns of the American Journal of 

 Science, vol. xxii, p. 137, It had been communicated to his 

 lady, by a friend of Mr. Michaux, who thus relates the circum- 

 stances of his death : ''I have to speak to you of the death of 

 our good friend, Mr, Michaux. Tie was carried off with fright- 

 ful suddenness by a stroke of apoplexy, on the 23d of October, 

 1855. He had been occupied the whole day, planting American 

 trees, and he himself directing his journeymen. He withdrew 

 from his work in good health, dined moderately, but Avith good 

 appetite. He went to bed as usual, and fell asleep. At about 

 one o'clock in the morning, his Avife heard him move about and 

 calling. She instantly rose from her bed, and ran to his apart- 

 ment. He was still struggling on the floor, wdien she entered his 

 room; bat, on reaching him, she found that he had breathed his 

 last. Physicians were called in immediately, but all in vain, 

 life was totally extinct. He died at the age of eighty-five 

 years. '^ 



Michaux left no issue. He had lived single to an advanced 

 age, when quite suddenly, he became tired of celibacy, and 

 changed abruptly his condition, by marrying a relative of his, 

 w^hoj for a long time, had been the manager of his house, his 



