XXIV BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 
the venerable Wm. Bartram, though I should be reluctant to assign to him a place as conspicuous as 
that of our philosophical travetler. 
Let Michaux speak of the goodness of his heart and of his disinterested philanthropy: “Paul was so 
exclusive in his attentions 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 still the property of his royal master; and ignorant of the vicissitudes of political revolution, reluc- 
tantly gave credence to the fact of the decapitation of his bountiful, but unfortunate King. Paul now 
lies in the Hackensae 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 ob- 
tained:—From the seeds which he had forwarded during his absence, more than two hundred and fifty 
thousand young trees had already sprung up, which were fairly promising to accomplish, in succeeding 
times, the objects contemplated by him, and confidently expected by his fellow members of the Socie- 
ty of Agriculture, who appointed a committee to report on the success of his voyage. Correa de Serra, 
chairman of that 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 actively employed in the publication of his 
great work: “ Histoire des Arbres Forestiers de 1 Amérique du Nord,” so anxiously expected by all who 
took an interest in the Flora of the United States, and in the observations of one so well versed in 
agricultural pursuits. The first volume appeared in 1810; the second, in 1812, and the third, in 1813. 
This magnificent work, illustrated by 144 copper plates, designed by the two Redouté and by Bessa, 
and engraved by such eminent artists as Gabriel, Renard, Boquet, Bessin, and Dubreuil, was translated 
into Hnglish by Augustus L. Hillhouse, and published in Paris in four volumes by Charles D’Hautel 
(1817—1819) under the title of “Worth American Sylva,” with the addition 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 publication of two American editions, which are 
likely, soon, to be followed by a third. The first, was issued at New Harmony, Indiana, in 1842, and 
the second, in this city, in 1852, with notes by J. J. Smith, Esq. Mr. Nuttall, soon after, published, 
on Michaux’s plan, an additional Sylva Americana, describing and illustrating as many as one hun- 
dred and twenty trees, mostly unknown to his predecessor, indigenous to the far west regions, Oregon 
and California included. 
Of this splendid work of Michaux, the author of an article on the botany of the United States, 
published in the 13th Vol. of the North American Review, remarks: “It is the plan of Michaux’s his- 
tory 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 experience could furnish 
him, with respect to the application of various kinds of wood to the purposes of life. Botanical de- 
scriptions can easily be made or found; but, in order to ascertain their useful properties, it was neces- 
sary to consult artisans, in almost every branch of practical mechanics, to frequent dock-yards, or work- 
shops in which wood was employed, and in short, to gather information from every attainable source. 
From these inquiries Michaux had obtained a most extensive collection of curious and important facts, 
which rather belonging to the application of botany than to botany itself, are nevertheless essential to the 
complete knowledge of the plants of the United States; for, besides the commercial and practical uses 
of ovr trees, we have a very perfect account of the inflorescence, fructification, growth and botanical 
habit of them individually considered, as also many interesting facts with regard to them taken toge- 
ther as composing forests.”’ 
