xiv INTRODUCTION. 



his wondrous works, grant me the means of proving to my court- 

 try the devotedness with which I strive to render myself not 

 unworthy of her ! 



We now proceeded swiftly down the broad Chesapeak Bay, 

 reached Norfolk, and removing into another steamer bound to 

 the capital of Virginia, soon arrived at Richmond. Having 

 made acquaintance, many years before, in Kentucky, with the 

 governor of that State, the Honourable John Floyd, I went 

 directly to him, was received in the kindest manner, and fur- 

 nished with letters of introduction ; after which we proceeded 

 southward until we arrived at Charleston in South Carolina. It 

 was there that 1 formed an acquaintance, now matured into a 

 highly valued friendship, with the Rev. John Bachman, a 

 proficient in general science, and in particular in zoology and 

 botany, and one whose name you will often meet with in the 

 course of my biographies. But I cannot refrain from describing 

 to you my first interview with this generous friend, and men- 

 tioning a few of the many pleasures I enjoyed under his hospi- 

 table roof, and in the company of his most interesting family 

 and connections. 



It was late in the afternoon when we took our lodgings in 

 Charleston. Being fatigued, and having written the substance 

 of my journey to my family, and delivered a letter to the Rev. 

 Mr Oilman, T retired to rest. At the first glimpse of day the 

 following morning, ray assistants and myself were already several 

 miles from the city, commencing our search in the fields and 

 woods, and having procured abundance of subjects both for the 

 pencil and the scalpel, we returned home, covered with mud, and 

 so accoutred as to draw towards us the attention of every per- 

 son in the streets. As we approached the boarding house, I 



