18 MEMOIR OF 



In the winter of 1816-17 Mr. Maclure visited the 

 West Indies, for the purpose of ascertaining, by per- 

 sonal observation, the Geology of that chain of islands 

 known as the Antilles. With this view he visited 

 and examined nearly twenty of these islands, in the 

 Caribean Sea, from Barbadoes to Santa Cruz and 

 St. Thomas inclusive. He bestow T ed especial atten- 

 tion on those portions of the series which are of 

 volcanic origin, of which the Grenadines form the 

 southern and Saba the northern end of the chain. 

 The results of this voyage of observation, in which 

 he was accompanied by his friend Mr. Lesueur, were 

 submitted to the Academy on the 28th of October 

 1817, and soon afterwards published in the Society's 

 Journal.* 



In 1819 Mr. Maclure 's active mind was again 

 directed to Europe. Embarking at New York he 

 went direct to France, and not long afterwards to 

 Spain. He was induced to visit the latter country 

 on account of the liberal constitution promulgated 

 by the Cortes, which promised a comparatively free 

 government to a country long oppressed by every 

 species of bondage. His plan was to establish a great 

 agricultural school, in which physical labour should 

 be combined with moral and intellectual culture. 



* Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, vol. i. 



