6 Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL. D. 



now engaged in merchandizing, removed to Martha's Vineyard, and 

 opened a store at Edgartown. Here he fitted out whaling vessels, 

 conducted business, and even practiced law before the Court of 

 Common Pleas. In 1768 he received his Master's degree from 

 Yale,* and began to study for the ministry, completing his course 

 in Dedham, Connecticut, under the direction of his father-in-law, 

 Rev. Thomas Balch. He was ordained pastor of the Church at Ips- 

 wich, Massachusetts, September 11, 1771, and made excursions as a 

 preacher throughout New England. During his travels Dr. Cutler 

 collected plants for his herbarium, taking also much interest in agri- 

 culture and horticulture. January 31, 1 781, he was elected a member 

 of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. At this time he was 

 intently engaged on his botany, and in his memoirs he relates how he 

 read all the works within his reach connected with the subject, and by 

 special request was loaned from Harvard "Dr. Hill's Natural History." 

 The letter soliciting the favor being of interest in connection with this 

 Bulletin, is reproduced, as follows : 



" To the Honorable and Reverend, the Corporation of Harvard College: 

 " Gentlemen, — Permit me to represent to your Honorable and 

 Reverend Board that I have been endeavoring, with considerable labor 

 and pains, to investigate the botanical characters of such Trees and 

 Plants as may fall under my observation, which are indigenous to this 

 part of America, and have not been described by Botanists ; also to 

 make out a Catalogue of those which are found growing here, but 

 have been found in other parts of the World, and therefore need no 

 botanical description ; and of such as have been propagated here, but 

 are not the spontaneous production of the Country. An attempt of 

 this kind, which I am not sensible has yet been undertaken, will be 

 necessary to furnish materials for a Natural History of the Country, in 

 which we are, at present, very deficient. 



" But I find myself unable to prosecute my Plan for want of some 

 of the latest botanical Publications, not only for determining, with more 



*The Batchelor's and Master's degrees were conferred on Dr. Cutler in the usual manner, and are recorded 

 in the usual manner.' The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred in September, 1789, and the diploma 

 issued 1791. This diploma is lost. 



