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In a neat preface the son of the author has very modestly exhibited the claims of the work to public regard. His father, having been six years in Persia for the sake of natural researches, was sent to America by Louis XVI, who was not only an amiable man and a mild monarch, but also a munificent patron of science. They, who persecuted and murdered him, were vandals as well, as regicides. "Cursed be "their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was "cruel."

M. Michaux passed twelve years in our country, collecting materials for the present publication. He acknowledges the aid, derived from Cornuti on the plants of Canada, Clayton and Gronovius on those of Virginia, Catesby's natural history of the Carolinas and Florida, Walter's Flora Caroliniana, Bartram's and Marshall's+ publications, and Forster, whose American florist is merely a nomenclature without any descriptions annexed.

M. Michaux's chief residence while in America was in the vicinity of Charleston S. C. where he commenced a botanical garden on a very systematic plan. About the year 1801 he embarked for Asia, as a Sçavant of the national institute, in pursuit of his favorite inquiries. He fell a victim to his indefatigable researches in Madagascar. On his departure from Carolina the agricultural society there purchased his garden, which has since been removed near to the city, that it may be more immediately under the inspection of the scientific president of the society, his excellency C. C. Pinckney, and more accessible to the visits of the inhabitants and strangers. A gentleman arrived from Corsica in 1804, recommended to General P. by his correspondents in the national institute, as eminently qualified for the superintendance of the garden, Late information enables us to state, for the satis

F. A. Michaux M. D. membre de la societé d'histoire naturelle de Paris &c. author of a " voyage a l'Ouest des monts Alléghanys, dans les Etats ❝ de l' Ohio, du Kentucky, et du Tennessée," &c, Paris I tom. 8vo. 1804. + Arbustum Americanum, or American grove &c. by Humphrey Marshall. Philad. 1785, 8vo 176 pp. This, though concise and limited in its plan, is an excellent performance,

faction of those, who have a taste for natural history, that the garden flourishes; and from the known liberality and literary ardor of its patron and his associates as well, as from the favorable soil and climate of the state, it will undoubtedly attain great celebrity.

M. Michaux, as a testimony of gratitude and respect as well, as a "tribute to one of the most thorough botanists, "with whom he had been acquainted," named a new genus of plants, Pinckneya. The flower, of which there are two species, is very beautiful; of the fifth class first order, Pentand. Monogyn. It considerably resembles the wild honeysuckle, or, as some call it, the swamp pink of our low pasture grounds, which is the Linnean genus Lonicera. The annexed description may serve, as a good specimen of the work, in which the second species Pinckneya pubens is exemplified by a very correct engraving. The engravings are generally executed with taste and accuracy as far, as our acquaintance with the originals authorises an opinion.

PINCKNEY A.

"Caulis fructicosus. Folia opposita, stipulacea. Flores "majusculi, fasciculato-paniculati.

"Cal. oblongus; tubo turbinato, solido; limbo longiore, "patentiuscule erecto, 5-partito; laciniis oblongis, raro sub"æqualibus; una solito (vel etiam altera) in bracteam folii"formem, coloratam apice ampliata.

"Cor. tubus longus, cylindraceus, ima parte paulo arc"tior; limbus 5-partitus ; laciniis oblongis, obtusis, recurvoτις patentissimis.

"Stam. quinque; filamenta supra faucem exerta, erecta, "longa, setacea, paulisper supra basim tubi corollæ inserta; "antheræ subversatiles, oblongæ, obtusæ.

"Pist. Ovarium tubo calycis concretum sive inferum; sty"lus longitudine staminum; stigma crassiusculum, obtuse "bilobum.

"Fruct. capsula majuscula, subrotunda, modice compressa, opposite bisulca et inde quasi ovato-digastra, apice retuso et areolato nudissima.

-“ Pericarpium subcoriaceo-carthaceum, 2-loculare, hia "tu modico bivalvi; valvis medio semiseptiferis.

-"Semina numerosa, horizontaliter acervata, alato "membranacea, circumscriptione irregulariter suborbiculata, "basi lunatim emarginata, qua affixa sunt receptaculo axili. "Nucleus ovalis, plano-lenticularis, materie subcornea " undique includente embryonem rectum, cotyledonibus bre"vi-ovalibus, obtusis; radicula compressiuscule tereti, illis "paulo breviore."

"Genus affine CINCHONA." "PUBENS. P. foliis ovalibus, utrinque acutis, subtus "subtomentosis.

"sus.

"Obs. Frutex subarborescens, erectus, opposite ramo→ Flores majusculi, pallentes et purpureo-lineati ; fasciculis e supremis axillis et terminalibus subpaniculatis. "Hab. ad ripas fluvii Sanctæ Mariæ, in Georgia." The number of Genera, described in this work, amount to about 625; many of them are of his own discovery, and in the "terminology" of these every one must be pleased with his ingenuity, and with the classical propriety, with which he has executed this difficult portion of his undertak ing. In this and in all parts of his work we trace with peculiar approbation and gratitude his adherence to the Linnean school.

The less grateful task of noticing defects and reprehending errors might occupy a considerable space. "Verùm ubi "plura nitent," &c. is our motto, and we think ought to be that of every candid critic. In a work of such extent many errata are to be charged to the printer; and some mistakes of the author are rarely, if ever, avoided. This is a posthumous publication; reasonable allowance ought therefore to be made for many omissions, which the writer's own re

* See Barton's elements, passim. This work deserves to be generally known. Though containing much visionary theory and more adventitious remark, which have encreased the size, and enhanced the price of the book, it should be perused by those, who wish to know the progress of scientific works among us. The author and his friends in Pennsylvania and N. York merit much commendation for their indefatigable exertions.

vision of the work might have supplied, and many alterations, which his inspection of the press would have suggested. It must be very evident, that the exhibition of the Flora of the middle states and especially of N. England is far less complete, than that of the southern division of our country. His researches in the former appear to be somewhat circumscribed. To class XII (Icosandria) large and valuable additions might be made by any one, plants has been considerable. vol. I, is an example of very and enumeration of species. 295-6 vol. I, are still more so. Europeans will be much disappointed, when, as many of them will, they eagerly turn to a very curious indigenous plant, " Dionea muscipula." This vegetable curiosity, called familiarly Venus' flytrap, certainly deserves a larger space, than the following.

whose attention to our own The genus "fragaria," p. 299, defective generic description Perhaps " rosa" and "rubus”

DIONEA. L.

"Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 5. Caps. unilocularis, gibba, po❝lysperma.

"MUSCIPULA. DIONEA. L. Hab. in uliginosis Carolina "septentrionalis, circa Wilmington."

The general plan of the work must be pronounced deficient in a few particulars. A table of abbreviations, of which every page of a botanical arrangement must exhibit several, would have been a very useful auxiliary to learners, and highly convenient to those, who are somewhat acquainted with this technical language. Brief references to writers on the particular plants would have been pleasing. The omission of these may not be of great consequence; but surely some works of this nature, with which M. Michaux probably was, and certainly ought to have been acquainted, are worthy of notice.

The familiar names might have been advantageously added in English, or French, or both.

Some of the most obvious and well ascertained properties and uses of the plants would have been highly interesting. Vol. II. No. 2.

A a

The medicinal qualities, the economical and culinary recommendations might have been exceedingly beneficial.

But, "let it be remembered, that, though some things "are omitted, yet much is performed;" and we cordially recommend to booksellers the importation, to readers the purchase, and to students a thorough intimacy with this learned and elegant work.

An address to the members of the Merrimack Humane Society, at their anniversary meeting in Newburyport, Sept. 3, 1805, by Daniel Appleton White. 2d ed. Newburyport. Edmund M. Blunt, 1805, pp. 38.

WE are apt to take up an address on an occasion

similar to that, which called forth Mr. White, with very humble expectations. But it is possible to give an interest to the most trite and common subjects. This difficult task Mr. White has accomplished. His address has the singular merit of being altogether pertinent without becoming tedious; and pleases rather by a happy manner of inculcating the humane virtues, than by any remarkable novelty of sentiment. This is no trivial praise; for they, who appear before benevolent associations, are often guilty of a hideous rhapsody of passionate address, which neither moves the vulgar, nor edifies the refined.

In his address Mr. White has given a view of the principles and design of the Merrimack humane society. All its principles he comprises in benevolence. In describing this virtue he disclaims abstruse and metaphysical disquisition, and makes it consist in feeling and exercise. The following extract evinces the writer's vivacity of manner, and the discrimination of his judgment.

"Certain modern theorists, who are sometimes called philosophers, have *subjected benevolence to the torture of their coldblooded speculations, to a "sort of metaphysical guillotine; and have presented us with an image,

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