Bv. ilanassrf] (Cutler. 23 



This fhows, perhaps, that Dr. Cutler appreciated (for the 

 Italics in the juft-quoted paflage are his own) that adum- 

 bration of a natural iyftem which was afforded or fuggefted 

 by the artificial ; and his inftances — the Graminece, the 

 Borraginacecs, the Umbelliferte, the Lfabiatcz, the Cruciferce, 

 the Malyacece, the Compojitce, &c; though thefe are cited 

 under the divifions, not of the natural, but of the fexual 

 fyftem — are ftill more to the point. There are other 

 obfervations of intereft; and the fuggeftion is made, that 

 perfons mould collecl: the plants of their diftri6ts, and fend 

 them from time to time to the Academy. 



Dr. Cutler was thus, poffibly, the firft to fuggeft a bo- 

 tanical chair in our colleges, and a general herbarium to 

 illuftrate the Flora of New England; and perhaps it was 

 this laft which led him to propofe a ftill more important 

 undertaking. " It has long been my intention," he fays in 

 "a letter to Prof. Swartz, of Upfal, dated 15th October, 

 1802, "to publifh a botanical work, comprifing the plants 

 of the northern and eaftern States; and [I] have been 

 collecting materials for that purpofe. But numerous avo- 

 cations, and a variety of other engagements, has occa- 

 fioned delay. It is, however, ftill my intention, if my 

 health permits, to do it. But, at this time, far lefs than in 

 vears paft, there is very little encouragement given here to 

 publications of this kind." 1 



About three hundred and feventy plants are indicated in 

 the publifhed " Account " of Dr. Cutler. It was not to be 



1 Mss. Cutler, penes me. 



