Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall / With notices of their botanical contemporaries. By William Darlington.
- William Darlington
- Date:
- 1849
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall / With notices of their botanical contemporaries. By William Darlington. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Doctor FoTHERGILL, in his memoir of PETER COLLINSON, A. D. 1769, says: “that eminent naturalist, Joun Bartram, may almost be said to have been created such by my friend’s [P. C.’s] assistance ; he first recommended the collecting of seeds, and afterwards assisted in disposing of them in this country [England], and constantly excited him to persevere in investigating the plants of America, which he has executed with indefatigable labour through a long course of years, and with amazing success.’ Joun Bartram, also, at the request of some naturalists im Europe, instituted and satisfactorily conducted a series of experi- ments on the Lychnis diotca—illustrative of the doctrine of the sexes of plants, and corroborative of those previously made upon the Indian corn (Zea Mays), by Jamus Locay, the distinguished friend and secretary of the founder of our Commonwealth. Mark Cartespy, in 1732, published the first volume of his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas ; and the second volume appeared in 1748.. The work was in large folio, with coloured plates,—and, for that day, was a magnificent performance, though its botanical merits were not quite equal to its pretensions. In 1739, the publication of the first systematic enumeration of North American plants was commenced at Leyden, in Holland, under the title of Flora Virginica. It was edited by the learned Professor Gronovivs, from specimens and descriptions furnished by that excellent pioneer of American Botany, JoHN CLAYTON, of Virginia, who is entitled to more of the credit, due to that work, than-has been generally awarded to him.* About this time, that able and sagacious botanist, Doctor Cav- WALLADER CoLDEN, of New York, began to pay attention to the Natural History of that province; and for a number of years, he continued to observe, collect, and describe the indigenous plants in the interesting region around his residence, at Coldenham, near of the kind in this western world, and exceedingly interesting, from its history and associations,—one might almost hope, even in this utilitarian age, that, if no motive more commendable could avail, a feeling of state or city pride, would be sufficient to ensure its preservation, in its original character, and for thé sake of its original objects. But, alas! there seems to be too much reason to apprehend that it will scarcely survive the immediate family of its noble-hearted founder, —and that even the present generation may live to see the accumulated treasures of a century laid waste—with all the once gay parterres and lovely borders con- verted into lumber-yards and coal-landings. * PETER Cotinson, in 1764, styles him. omy friend Jonn Ciaxyton, the great botanist of America.” . |](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33286292_0035.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
