94 Expedition to the 



tions, as far as we are informed, hitherto before the public." 

 His Herbarium, it is well known, has contributed to 

 enrich the works of Pursh and Nuttall. He was the friend 

 and correspondent of the venerable Muhlenbergh, and 

 contributed materials for the copious catalogue of North 

 American plants, published by that excellent botanist. In 

 South America he met with Bonpland, the illustrious com- 

 panion of Humboldt, and a friendly correspondence was es- 

 tablished between them, which continued until his death. 

 He had travelled extensively, not only in South America, 

 but in Georgia, Florida, and other parts of North America. 

 His notes and collections are extensive and valuable. Dur- 

 ing the short period of his connection with the exploring 

 party, the infirmities, resulting from a long established and 

 incurable pulmonary disease, then rapidly approaching its 

 fatal termination, could not overcome the activity of his 

 mind, or divert his attention entirely from his favourite 

 pursuit. Though unable to walk on shore, he caused plants 

 to be collected and brought on board the boat; and not dis- 

 heartened by the many vexations attending this method of 

 examination, he persevered, and in the course of the voyage 

 from Pittsburgh to Franklin, detected and described many 

 new plants, and added many valuable observations relating 

 to such as were before known. To show the scope and ac- 

 curacy of his method of observation, and for the gratifica- 

 tion of the botanical reader, we subjoin a part of the obser- 

 vations registered in Dr. Baldwin's diary, from July 



* In a letter addressed to Mr. Frazer, an extract from which was pub- 

 lished in the tenth volume of the London Journal of Literature and the Arts, 

 Dr. Baldwin mentions having discovered, near Monte Video, in South 

 America, the Solatium Tuberosum in its native locality. Mr. Lambert, how- 

 ever, considered this plantasthe SolanumCommersonio{Dvmal,2iTid though 

 it produces tuberous roots, and in other respects makes a near approach 

 to S. tuberosum, 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 so- 

 lauum tuberosum has been ascertained by Ruiz and Pavon, after having 

 escaped the observation of Humboldt and Bonpland. 



