
          "The Father of American Pomology." *

Coxe’s book on fruit trees - The Seckel pear - A volume of original
fruit paintings.

Messrs. Editors - The name of William Coxe is held in such universal
respect by all lovers of horticulture in America, and his
celebrated book upon Fruit Trees is so highly esteemed by all devotees
of Pomona, that I am induced to believe that a few particulars
relating to the author and to the book will prove not unacceptable
to your readers.  It is my intention, however, to prepare for your
pages a more elaborate notice of this earliest American author upon
pomology than my present communication proposes; and I shall be enabled 
to use for that purpose the valuable materials to be furnished
me by his son, my friend Richard S. Coxe, Esq., of Washington, D. C.,
the eloquent advocate and profound jurist.

The title of the work by Mr. Coxe is, "A View of the Cultivation
of Fruit Trees in America." It is now out of print and quite rare, as
there was, I believe, but one edition, and that was published in Philadelphia,
1817.  The style of American publications at that date was
greatly inferior to the elegant dress in which works in this country
now make their appearance; and the wood-cuts in "Coxe's View” are
such as no publisher of the present day would consider half elegant
enough for any book ushered from his establishment.  Mr. Coxe lived
near Burlington, New Jersey, and it was there that he collected, from
all parts of the country, trees and specimens of the various fruits
described in his book, and there this book was written. Two days ago,
whilst in the office of Richard S. Coxe, Esq., in Washington, I was
shown the copy of the "Transactions of the Hort. Soc. of London,"
sent by that Society as a compliment to his father, in consequence of
their receiving the "View" and the following letter from the late Dr.
David Hosack.  Dr. Hosack was too well known to New-Yorkers, and his
beautiful residence, Hyde Park, on the Hudson, was, and, under its
present proprietor, still continues too much admired to need more
than the mention of his name. The letter, as copied by me, may be
found in the volume of the "Transactions*" referred to, upon pages 256,
257, 258, and the article containing it is as follows:

L. Some account of the Seckle Pear, a new seedling raised in the
neighborhood of Philadelphia. In a letter to the Secretary
from David Hosack, M. D., F. R. S., &c., Foreign Member of
the Horticultural Society.

[Read January 5, 1819]

* (From the Country Gentleman, April 2, 1857.)
        