INTRODUCTION. 



The manuscript Journal of the eminent bota- 

 nist, Frederick Pursli, came into the possession 

 of the American Philosophical Society, among 

 some papers accompanying the herbarium of the 

 late Dr. B. S. Barton. 



An entry occurs on the first page of this man- 

 uscript, made probably by the executor of Dr. B., 

 viz:" MS. Journal of a Botanical Excursion in 

 the North eastern parts of Pennsylvania and in 

 the State of New York. By an unknown person 

 who appears to have been a German, & a friend of 

 the late Dr. Benj. S. Barton. 



Found among the Books of Dr. Barton after 

 hisdeathinlS17." 



Being the acting Librarian of the Society, this 

 interesting little volume has recently fallen under 

 my eye, my attention was directed, to the fol- 

 lowing remark which occurs under date of July 

 20th, by a gentleman who had previously seen, 

 and casually read, the manuscript : 



"Mr. Geddes brought me to a deep valley, 

 about one mile from his house, where we ascended 

 a steep, very rocky hill ; there large masses of 

 rock seem to be piled up or tumbled over one and 

 another in such a confused manner, that it has 

 left large chasms between them, which sometimes 

 appear like caves. " 



After enumerating a number of plants collect- 

 ed, he continues : "And what I thought most of, 

 Asplenium scolopendrium. This Fern, which I 

 don't find mentioned by any one to grow in 

 America, I always had a notion to be found here, 

 and indeed I was quite rejoiced to find my pre- 

 judice so well founded in truth." 



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