WILLIAM BARTRAM. 
objects of his search, not only in noticing the more com- 
mon, but scrutinizing every plant which appeared new to 
him, or would be rare to others interested in the botanical 
kingdom. His researches, as before stated, attracted the 
notice of some of the chief men of London, among whom 
was Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society; 
this nobleman, (whether for himself or the Society over 
which he presided, is not precisely known,) wishing to 
avail himself of the services of our traveller, offered him 
one shilling sterling for every new plant which he might 
discover in these southern districts, which offer drew 
the following laconic answer: 
“ William Bartram, in answer to Joseph Banks’ propo- 
sal, says, that there are not over five hundred species of 
plants altogether in the provinces of Virginia, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, West and East Florida, and 
Georgia, which, at one shilling each, amounts only to 
£25 — supposing every thing acceptable. It has taken 
him two years to search only part of the two last pro- 
vinces, and finds by experience it cannot be done with to- 
lerable conveniency for less than ,£100 a year, therefore 
it cannot reasonably be expected that he can accept 
the offer.” 
Mr.Bartram was occupied five years in these researches, 
during which period he discovered a large number of 
new plants, and contributed most extensive information 
relative to the natural history of the country; he was the 
first American ornithologist, and his table of birds was re- 
garded as the only correct list extant, in which two hun- 
dred and fifteen different species are enumerated; this 
table is to be found in his work, page 285, of the Dublin 
edition. 
plied, with a countenance that at once bespoke surprise and pleasure, 
“ My friend, consider yourself a fortunate man: ‘ that fellow,’ said he, 
* is one of the greatest villains on earth, a noted murderer, and out- 
lawed by his countrymen. Last evening he was here, we took his 
gun from him, broke it in pieces, and gave him a severe drubbing; he, 
however, made his escape, carrying off a new rifle gun, with which, 
he said, going off, he would kill the first white man he met.’ ” 
On seriously contemplating the behaviour of this Indian towards me, 
so soon after his ill treatment, the following train of sentiments insen- 
sibly crowded in upon my mind: 
Can it be denied, hut that the moral principle, which directs the 
savages to virtuous and praiseworthy actions, is natural or innate ? It 
is certain they have not the assistance of letters, or those means of 
education in the schools of philosophy, where the virtuous sentiments 
and actions of the most illustrious characters are recorded, and care- 
fully laid before the youth of civilized nations: therefore this moral 
principle must be innate, or they must be under the immediate influ- 
ence and guidance of a more divine and powerful preceptor, who, on 
these occasions, instantly inspires them, and, as with a ray of divine 
light, points out to them at once the dignity, propriety, and beauty of 
virtue. 
iii 
After his return home, he devoted himself still more 
closely to science; and in April, 1782, he was elected 
Professor of Botany in the University of Pennsylvania, 
but declined serving in consequence of the impaired state 
of his health; he was also elected a member of several 
other scientific institutions in the city of Philadelphia. 
In 1776, just at the commencement of the Revolutionary 
War, and while on his return from Florida to Georgia, 
Mr. Bartram volunteered and joined a detachment of 
men, raised by Gen. Lochlan McIntosh, to repel a sup- 
posed invasion of that state from St. Augustine by the 
British; he was offered a lieutenant’s commission if he 
would remain, but the report which led him to volunteer 
his services having proved false, the detachment was dis- 
banded, and Mr. Bartram resumed his travels. Mr. Bar- 
tram possessed a full share of republican principles, which 
were imbibed at a very early age, the first impressions 
being given when at school by his tutor, Charles Thomson, 
afterwards Secretary to Congress during the revolution; 
and Mr. Bartram was frequently heard to say, how care- 
ful Mr. Thomson was, on every possible occasion, to instil 
republican principles into the minds of his youthful 
pupils. 
As a writer, Mr. Bartram, at times, was graphic, and 
generally delineated things as he saw them, although here 
and there some extravagant or enthusiastic remarks accom- 
pany his descriptions, yet, upon the whole, he was easy, 
intelligent, and instructive; he was often placed in unplea- 
sant and sometimes perilous circumstances during his 
travels; and his account of the alligators and frequent en- 
counters with them, cannot be read without the most 
thrilling interest.(2) Indeed, so powerful were the impres- 
(2) The evening was temperately cool and calm. The crocodiles 
began to roar and appear in uncommon numbers along the shores 
and in the river. I fixed my camp in an open plain, near the 
utmost projection of the promontory, under the shelter of a large 
live oak, which stood on the highest part of the ground, and but 
a few yards from my boat. From this open, high situation, I had 
a free prospect of the. river, which was a matter of no trivial con- 
sideration to me, having good reason to dread the subtle attacks 
of the alligators, who were crowding about my harbour. Having 
collected a good quantity of wood for the purpose of keeping up 
a light and smoke during the night, I began to think of preparing 
my supper, when, upon examining my stores, I found but a scanty 
provision. I thereupon determined, as the most expeditious way 
of supplying my necessities, to take my bob and try for some trout. 
About one hundred yards above my harbour began a cove or bay 
of the river, out of which opened a large lagoon. The mouth or 
entrance from the river to it was narrow, but the waters soon af- 
terwards spread and formed a little lake, extending into the 
marshes: its entrance and shores within I observed to be verged 
with floating lawns of the pistia and nymphea, and other aquatic 
plants; these I knew were excellent haunts for trout. 
