CHAP. XXXV.] NEW HARMONY. 203 



bling a lichen. Below the branches we were pleased to gather 

 several spring flowers, the white anemone, the blood-root (San- 

 guinaria canadensis), the dog-tooth violet (Erythronium ameri- 

 canum), and the spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica). 



Though a large proportion of the mosses and other cryptogamia 

 are identical with those of Europe, we saw no flower which was 

 not peculiar to America. Many European plants, however, are 

 making their way here, such as the wild camomile, and the 

 thorn-apple (Datura Stramonium) ; and it is a curious fact, 

 which I afterward learnt from Dr. Dale Owen, that when such 

 foreigners are first naturalized they overrun the country with 

 amazing rapidity, and are quite a nuisance. But they soon grow 

 scarce, and after eight or ten years can hardly be met with. 



We spent several days very agreeably at New Harmony, where 

 we were most hospitably welcomed by Dr. and Mrs. Dale Owen. 

 The town is pleasantly situated in a valley watered by the 

 Wabash, which here divides the states of Indiana and Illinois. 

 Some large buildings, in the German style of architecture, stand 

 conspicuous, and were erected by Rapp ; but the communities 

 founded by him, and afterward by Robert Owen of Lanark, have 

 disappeared, the principal edifice being now appropriated as a 

 public museum, in which I found a good collection of geological 

 specimens, both fossils and minerals, made during the state survey, 

 and was glad to learn that the Legislature, with a view of en 

 couraging science, has exempted this building from taxes. Lec 

 tures on chemistry and geology are given here in the winter. 

 Many families of superior intelligence, English, Swiss, and Ger 

 man, have settled in the place, and there is a marked simplicity 

 in their manner of living which reminded us of Germany. They 

 are very sociable, and there were many private parties where 

 there was music and dancing, and a public assembly once a week, 

 to one of which we went, where quadrilles and waltzes were 

 danced, the band consisting of amateur musicians. 



Say, the eminent conchologist, who died at the age of forty- 

 five, formerly resided at New Harmony ; and recently Prince 

 Maximilian, of Neuwied, and the naturalists who accompanied 

 him, passed a winter here. We found also, among the residents, 



