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In the prosecution of my history of New Hampshire, I shall have to ask you some questions in the Natural History way. I am not at present prepared; but when I am, shall write to

you.

Pray, let us have the pleasure of seeing you again this fall-perhaps at Cambridge next Academy meeting.

With respects to Mrs. Cutler, I am, dear sir,

Your friend and brother,

THE REV. MANASSEH CUTLER.

JERE. BELKNAP.

BOSTON, May 30, 1792.

Sir-I have the pleasure of informing you that the Historical Society have done themselves the Honor of electing you one of their members. In their name, I ask your acceptance of the election, and that you will unite your efforts with theirs to promote the valuable purpose of the institution. I inclose to you a copy of the Constitution of the Society and of their circular Letter, and am, sir,

With much respect, your very humble servant,

JEREMY BELKNAP, Corresponding Secretary.

THE REV. MANASSEH CUTLER, LL.D.

IPSWICH, June 26, 1792.

My Dear Sir:-I am favored with yours of May the 30th, informing me that I have been elected a member of the Historical Society. The Honor done me by a Society so respectable sensibly impresses my mind, and induces me not to decline an acceptance, though I very much fear it will not be in my power to afford the least aid to the design of the institution. If, at any time, I should be able to contribute the smallest mite, it will give me much pleasure.

Sincerely wishing your exertions may be as successful as your views are laudable,

I have the honor to be, with much respect, sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

REV. JEREMY BELKNAP,

Secy. Hist. Society.

VOL. II.-17

M. CUTLER.

Dr. Cutler took great interest in the Historical Society, and was always watchful to promote its object, by securing additions to its library and cabinet. He usually attended its meetings. Of one of these he gives this account:

"July 30, 1793. The Historical Society met at 7 o'clock in the morning, at Faneuil Hall, and adjourned to Governor's Island. We went down in a large boat, dined there, and spent the day very agreeably. When we returned in the evening, set me ashore at Winnissimet-I came home."

CHAPTER XX.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. STOKES, MRS. MERRY, MR. VAUGHAN, BARON HERMELIN, DR. BARTON, DR. MUHLENBURG, MR. STICKNEY, COUnt CasTIGLIONI, MR. PAYKULL, DR. SWARTZ, HON. JOHN DAVIS, LORD VALENTIA, JUDGE PARSONS, PROF. C. F. RAFINESQUE TIMOTHY PICKERING, EPHRAIM CUTLER.

[From Dr. Jonathan Stokes.*]

STOURBRIDGE, WORCESTERSHIRE, ENG., Aug. 17, 1785. Sir:-Your favor of June 28th, which I received yesterday, has proved the source of many pleasing reflections.

There is no country in the world, next to my own, to which I feel myself so strongly attached, or in whose well-doing I am so much interested, as that of which you, sir, are a citizen. Long may you be United States. The name, alas! will long remind us with regret that we are no longer one people; but I trust we shall still be united in one general interest for the natural liberties of man, for the improvement of his moral and intellectual faculties, and for the promotion of every art and science which can tend to preserve or augment his happiness. As a citizen of the world, let me congratulate you, sir, on the noble field which lies before you, on the interesting objects you have in view, in the patronage of an enlightened people. As an individual, let me return you my sincere thanks for the liberal communications which you offer, and truly happy shall I esteem myself, if, at this distance, I can be able to contribute any thing toward the great ends which you have in view, and pleasing is the reflection that we have thus discovered a new and unexpected point of union.

It would give me pleasure to see the vegetable subjects of

*Jonathan Stokes was a botanist of note, contemporary with Withering, whom he assisted in preparing his works. He was the author of a botanical Materia Medica, which was published in London in 1812. In the southern states there is a plant belonging to the Compositæ, named Stokesia Cynea, in honor of Dr. Stokes.-C. G. Lloyd.

the once British Empire united under one botanical legislature, but as it is, perhaps, for the happiness of the whole that an Empire which, like Rome, might have grown too unwieldy for itself, as well as too formidable for the rest of mankind, should separate, I can not help thinking that the diffusion of botanical knowledge will be accelerated by keeping our Flora distinct.

I have had it some time in contemplation to extend the plan, at least, of the Botanical Arrangement, to the plants cultivated in these isles; but the liberal offers of assistance which I have had the pleasure to receive from you, will induce me to contract my views on the one side, to be enabled to take advantage of the new field which you have opened me, of native specimens, and of North American plants not cultivated in these kingdoms. I propose, therefore, if it meets with your approbation, as soon as we shall have completed the Botanical Arrangement, to begin with an examination of all such plants that I may have in my herbarium, or of which I shall be able to procure living specimens, which are supposed to be natives of N. America, translating all that Linnæus has given on the subject, with a collection of synonyms at full length, with all the observations, medical and economical, to be collected from authors. Such a work, I am persuaded, would be useful to both countries; but though even it should be enriched by you, it can only be regarded as an essay. A complete Flora of North America is a work which the public can only expect from you, and the observations of a series of years. But, though not complete, it will be useful, and be, perhaps, the best means of rendering it complete. I am happy

to hear of the safe arrival of Count Castiglioni. I found him the character you describe, and regretted much that he did not fulfill the promise he made us of repeating his visit. He is what I would call a botanist of sound principles. He has studied the philosophy of Botany with great attention, and seems to have escaped most of the foibles of his immediate master, Scopoli, who is, I think, not less fond of saying something which shall appear new, than of discovering what is really so.

I am apprehensive I spoke too freely to the Count of my opinion of his master. I am fully sensible of the merits of

Scopoli, who has deserved much, but I can not approve of his leading away the attention of the young botanist from the severe distinctive characters of Linnæus to his own picturesque but often vague diagnosis.

North America has hitherto been Linnæan, and I trust will not be retarded in its progress by absurd national partiality, even for the good and excellent Ray, or be dazzled by the illtimed eloquence of the French Zoologist. But, though I revere Linnæus, the sexual system is, with me, one of the least of his merits. I would adhere to it, "but I will hold it so loosely," to borrow an expression from a little work of Mrs. Stokes, which was the happy means of introducing her to Mr. Eliot, "as not to be hurt by its thorns."

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The sexual system is a bond of union. It has tended much to give universality to one system, which, like establishment and corporations, is of use for a time, but a too rigid adherence to its principles tends to lead us to separate natural genera. Of this, my long to be regretted friend, the younger Linnæus, was fully sensible. His first object was to keep the natural assemblages together, as this is the great use and end of all arrangement. Easy investigation is a secondary consideration, as exceptions in the synopsis of the genera at the head of the classes will supply all deficiencies of that kind. Linnæus has, in compliance with the usage of former botanists, and often in conformity with the sexual distinctions, often multiplied genera unnecessarily. ... I should be glad to learn whether any of the Swallow genus have ever been discovered during the winter in a torpid state, and in particular, under water, and to be informed what the prevailing opinion is respecting the habitation of these birds during the winter. The hypothesis of migration has been much weakened in Europe by the doubts which have been raised respecting the assertion of Mr. Adanson respecting his having seen the European Swallow at Senegal. Mr. Adanson complained to me, when at Paris, of Mr. Barrington's treatment of him. I inquired whether he had brought over any specimens of the species which he called the Swallow of Europe, to which he replied that he had deposited one of them in the King's cabinet. Then I applied to M. Dauberton, the younger, for a

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