Dr. Baldwin. ip^ 



say 'The pencil is the best microscope,' which means that when 

 you draw each part as accurately as you can, your attention is so 

 rivited to minute details that you learn with the naked vision to 

 see more than an untrained eye would see with the aid of the 

 most powerful objective. — President Ballard. 



DR. BALDWIN. 



Dr. Baldwin was the botanist of Major Stephen H Long's ex- 

 pedition to the Rocky Mountains, when it started from Pittsburg- 

 in May, 1819. But his health failed and he was left at Franklin, 

 Howard Co., Missouri, where he died August 31, 18 19, and the 

 late Dr. Edwin James his took place in the expedition as botanist 

 and geologist. 



Dr. James speaks of Dr. Baldwin as having been an earnest and 

 diligent worker and as having contributed much to advance and 

 embellish the fascinating science to which his life was dedicated. 

 His manuscripts were numerous but his published works few. 

 His Herbarium contributed to enrich the works of Pursh and 

 Nuttall; he was the friend and correspondent of Muhlenburg and 

 contributed materials for the catalogue of North American plants 

 published by that botanist. In South America Dr. Baldwin met 

 with Bonpland, the illustrious companion of Humboldt, and cor- 

 responded with him until his death. He travelled in South 

 America and North America, and his notes and collections are 

 extensive and numerous. 



In a letter addressed to Mr. Frazer, and extract of which was 

 published in the tenth volume ol the London Journal of Literature 

 and the arts, Dr. Baldwin mentions having discovered, near Monte 

 Video, in South America, the Solanum Tuberosum in its native 

 locality. Mr. Lambert, however, considered this plant as the 

 Solanum Commersoni of Dunal, and though it produces tuberous 

 roots, and in other respects makes a near approach to S. tube- 

 rosum; he was not satisfied of their identity, and remarks that it is 

 yet to be proved, that this is the stock from which the common 

 potatoe has been derived. It appears, however, that the original 

 locality of the solanum tuberosum has been ascertained by Ruiz 

 and Pavon, after having escaped the observation of Humboldt and 

 Bonpland . 



During Dr. Baldwin's connection with the Rocky Mountain 

 Expedition, after he was unable to walk on shore, he caused plants 

 to be brought to him on the boat during the voyage from Pitts- 

 burg to Franklin, and detected and described many new plants. 

 The following is a brief extract from his diary : 



Erigeron canadense, Solanum Carolini anum, very luxuriant 

 and still flowering. The leaf of the TiHa glabra, I found to meas- 

 ure thirteen inches in length, and eleven in breadth. Bignonia 

 radicans, a Helianthus with a leaf margined with spines, the nar- 



