Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL. D. 7 



accuracy, the botanical characters of Trees and Plants, but especially 

 for ascertaining those which have already been discovered and de- 

 scribed. I have sent to Europe for several books, and particularly for 

 Dr. Hill's Natural History, but none of them could be procured. I 

 can not find that any of those books, which will be of much advantage, 

 are anywhere in this State, except in the College Library. 



" I therefore beg leave to request that your Honorable and Rev- 

 erend Board will grant me the favor of Dr. Hill's Natural History 

 from the College Library for a short time, and I will be accountable for 

 the careful usage and safe return of it to the Library again, and will 

 pay whatever sum shall be required for the use of it. Such a favor 

 will confer a very special obligation on, Gentlemen, 



"Your most obedient and most humble servant, 



"M. Cutler. 

 "Ipswich, January 18, 1781." 



Dr. Cutler, having his manuscript ready, went to Boston, Sep- 

 tember 2, 1785, to meet a Committee of the American Academy of 

 Arts and Sciences, delivered to them his paper, and in 1785 the con- 

 tribution appeared in the transactions of that body. This work is 

 herewith presented in facsimile as Reproduction Bulletin No. 7 of the 

 Lloyd Library. 



Manasseh Cutler was a man of culture, of affairs, of deeds. He 

 was close to all the conspicuous men of Massachusetts in his day, in 

 Science, Religion and Politics, and corresponded with scientists and 

 statesmen both in America and abroad. Among his botanical corre- 

 spondents and associates were such men as Professor C. S. Rafinesque, 

 Professor B. S. Barton, Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg, and others of that date 

 concerned in American botany. His broadening opportunities and his 

 educational principles led him ever to take a patriotic part in the mo- 

 mentous times upon the Colonies at that period, and we accordingly 

 find him in the seat of war, helping and preaching among the Colonial 

 troops. Finally (1787) came the work of his life best known and most 

 important, the "Ohio Company" formed for the purpose of purchas- 

 ing land for a Western Colony. This resulted in the settlement of 



