122 FRANCIS MASSON. 
The information which I have been able to obtain as to the last 
eight years of Masson’s life is derived fr e ‘* garden plant 
w, of which nine are preserved in the Director's 
office: to these the authorities have kindly allowed me access. 
n arrived at New York at the end of 1797, and wrote 
thence to Aiton on Jan. 1, 1798, giving an account of the troubles 
e 
so to New York. After some stay here, Masson went to Niagara, where 
he arrived about the beginning of July, having taken the route by 
the Mohawk River and Wood Oreek to Oswego, and then coasting 
al h a i om Ni to 
h 
Niagara, subsequently reaching Montreal, whence he wrote to 
Banks the letter, dated Oct. 18, from which these particulars are ex- 
tracted. Subsequent letters from Montreal, dated May 14, Oct. 17, 
: ap 8, sprung up under his steps, 
and it seemed probable that much practical knowledge was likely 
The bulk of Masson’s dried plants is in the British Museum. 
Some of his Cape plants are in the Delessert Herbarium, according 
* I have to thank Mr. John Smith, the ex Curator, for putti n the 
e te : ’ - , putting me on 
track of this information. The following extract from his letter to me will, I 
think, be read with interest :—*With regard to Masson’s correspondence with 
ton, it, and correspondence of iton, as als his 
father, were destroyed by his brother, John Aiton, as also the list books, except 
: ame : 
range in date from 17 93 to 1847, that for 1825 to 1836 being wanting. There 
in the Herbarium Library part of the MS. of the « Hortus Kewensis, as well 4 
0 : 
t Rees’ Cyclopedia, 
