INTRODUCTION. 43 



those days, before 1850 — though how much before I 

 cannot say, as the letter has no date — a microscope, 

 in tliis country at least, was a curiosity of no small 

 moment. Of that company I believe only Captain 

 Pike remains. 



A complete set of the published and manuscript 

 notes of Prof. Bailey's patient and accurate scientific 

 observations, together with his scientific correspond- 

 ence, his large collection of Algae, and no less than 

 3,000 mounted and catalogued microscopical objects, 

 are in the possession of the Boston Natural History 

 Society, and are accessible to all students of science. 



It was mainly through the influence of Prof. 

 Bailey, that Dr. Wm. H. Harvey, Prof, of Botany 

 in Trinity College, Dublin, and the most learned and 

 distinguished British Algologist, came to this country, 

 to study and pubUsh our plants. Aiiangements were 

 made for the publication of the Memoir, and Dr. 

 Harvey came here about 1850, and remained in the 

 country several months visiting important points from 

 Halifax to Key West, and collecting largely, also 

 availing himself of -the collections of others. From 

 the material thus gathered, he published through the 

 Smithsonian Institution, the largest work- ever yet issued 

 on American Algse — the "Nereis Boreali- Americana." 



The first part containing the olive colored sea 



