and Writings of Dr Olaus Swartz. 10 
land itself as far as Lulea, Finland, and, lastly, the Islands of 
Aland and Gothland. When he had acquired, in these jour- 
neys, a very comprehensive knowledge of the indigenous plants 
of his native country, which he increased and perfected by 
his winter studies, and had remained at the University for five 
years, being now in his twenty-third year, he purposed to visit 
foreign countries, in order to augment his store of botanical 
knowledge. Anxious to investigate the profuse vegetation of 
the tropics, after he had defended his dissertation De Methodo 
Muscorum (Lin. Amcen. Acad., vol. x., App. p. 69-), illustrat- 
ed "he history of Gentiana pulchella (Vetensk. Acad. Hundl. 
1783, p. 88.), and communicated his inaugural essay to the 
Medical Faculty, he left his native country in the summer of 
1783, with the intention of visiting North America, in the first 
place, and in the following year, Jamaica. While in this 
island, where he remained for upwards of a year, he obtained 
from the University the degree of Doctor of Medicine *. He 
continued his journey, which he had undertaken at his own ex- 
pence, through Hispaniola, and others of the West India 
Islands, as far as the shores of South America, and every where 
collected, besides phaenogamous plants, ferns, mosses, and 
lichens, in such abundance, and with so much diligence and 
sagacity, that his labours in this respect may be compared with 
those of Sloane, Plumier, and Aublet. At length, in the year 
1786, having returned to Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, and 
after refusing, on account of his attachment to his native coun- 
try, the Royal Botanical Chair which had been offered him, he 
embarked in a ship bound for England. 
Having finished his voyage in safety, he remained upwards 
of a year in London, occupying his time in a manner becoming 
a naturalist, among the natural treasures amassed in that opulent 
city. Here he received the utmost benefit from the friendship and 
knowledge of the venerable Sir Joseph Banks, who procured for 
him ample means of seeing and examining the most extensive 
* At this time, the late excellent Dr Wright, F. R. S., See. was a practising 
physician in Jamaica, and active in the investigation of its plants. He com- 
municated many plants to Swartz, and otherwise was of great service to that 
distinguished botanist, 
B 2 
