devest myself of the recollection, that a most eloquent citizen (Mr. Morris) addressed you forcibly at the last anniversary, on the resources, the power, and stability of this commonwealth. Yet, I ought not to despond. Such bright examples invite imitation; and I cheerfully consent to follow, where I can neither lead nor keep even pace. In tracing the history of American plants, it appears that they attracted considerable attention from the adventurers and collectors of the 16th century. The occurrences of this period will be arranged under two divisions: 1st, That of persons who made publications, concerning things they saw or knew; and, 2dly, Of those that collected and published the narratives of others. History of American botany during the I. By travellers. 16th century. 1526. Gonzalez Hernandez de Oviedo, published, in the Spanish tongue, at Toledo, his general and natural history of the Indias, and of the continent beyond the ocean. He was rector of the parish of Santa Maria in Terra Firma. Of this work, the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th books, treat of botany. In the 7th, useful plants and trees are described, with the art of making bread from maize, and manioc. Of the latter, he mentions two species, the wholesome and the poisonous, He names potatoes, pine apples, and other esculent plants. Among the vegetables in the 8th, he describes the bixa, pitahaya, tuna, and cereus; and presents some drawings. Forest trees are treated of in the 9th; such as the mangle, manchineel, tree-ferns, and others. The 10th contains the medical trees and plants; such as as guaiacum, cotton, and many more. It is worthy of note, that about this time, guaiacum was called le saint bois, lignum sanctum, or the holy wood, as it is to this day, lignumvitæ, or the wood of life. 1545-1556. Between these years appeared the several editions, in French, Latin, English and Italian of Hieronymus Benzon's history of the new world. He had passed fourteen years there, and on his return to Europe, published this book in octavo. Beside the events and occurrences he relates, this author recites various information about maize, yuoca, tobacco, and the trees of the places he visited. Though there are some exaggerations and fables, Benzon's work, as it has had a large share of popular attention, deserves to be mentioned on such an occasion as this. 1554. Andrew Thevet, a monk, visited several parts of America, and among others, the southeastern region, now called Brazil. He published a book this year in Paris, upon the singularities of Antarctic France, otherwise called America. It is a poor piece of patchwork; the author applying to the productions of the new world, the descriptions of the ancient writers, and now and then describing things he never saw. Yet, from his own real descriptions and figures, imperfect and rude as they are, something may be gathered. On some productions of the regions he visited, his pages are worthy of being consulted; and in another work, that he published in 1584 at Paris, entitled a general history of the West Indias and of new countries, he also remembers plants. 1554. This same year, Francis Lopez de Gomara published, at Antwerp, his history of Mexico; a work which contains some articles of information on natural productions. 1580. John Lery published a work entitled a Voyage to the Land of Brazil; otherwise called American Rochelle. It appeared first in French, and then in Latin. He was concerned in the unfortu nate expedition of the count Villegagnon to Rio Janeiro. Though a priest, he attended carefully to the productions of nature, and gave the economical and medical history of a considerable number of American plants. 1590. This year was distinguished by the appearance, at Seville, in quarto, of the natural history of the Indias, by Joseph Acosta. It was reprinted in various places afterward; and translated into Latin, French, Dutch, Italian, English and German. The author lived some time in Peru; and returned to Europe in 1587. The fourth book contains his account of American vegetables, more especially those of the region where he had resided. It is a respectable body of information, relative to flowers, balsams and trees, with their medical and economical virtues; but without figures. He notices the cochineal plant, under the name of tuna. The rest of the work relates to other matters; and, indeed, the chief portion of it treats of religious concerns. II. By compilers. 1550. To this year is referred the Italian collection of Voyages and Travels, all over the world; published by I. B. Ramusio. In the first volume are contained the Adventures of Amerigo Vespucci to the new world, and the voyage of circumnavigation by Ferdinand Magelhaens. The former gave a name to the western hemisphere, and Pigafetta, the companion of the latter, began a journey in 1519, wherein the more rare plants and trees are described. The second volume contains very little about botany. But in the third, the latter edition of which bears date in 1613, may be seen the work of Oviedo, and the relation made by Jacques Cartier, concerning New France, and the plants he found there some of which are like those of Europe; and others, quite different, are new. I need not mention the military exploits of Cortez and Pizarro, which occupy many of the remaining pages. 1590. Here ought to be placed the commencement of that compilation of Jacob Theodore de Bry, and of his son, John Israel de Bry, entitled, America, or, A Collection of Voyages and Travels in America. The first part contains John Withe's description of the productions and customs of Virginia. This tract was also printed at London in 1588; and came forth in German in 1590. The second part contains the expeditions of Renatus de Laudonniere and Jacob le Moine, otherwise called De Gourgues, into Carolina, in 1591. The botanical information they afford relates, however, chiefly to the native fruits and vines. Part the third contains the history of Brazil, 1592, by J. Stadt. This includes a sketch of the more useful plants, particularly of three sorts of pepper. John Lery's journey, is contained in the 4th; Benzon's Novus Orbis, in the 5th and 6th; and Ulric Faber's voyage to Buenos Ayres, the river Parana, and some districts of Brazil, in the 7th. The voyages of Hawkins, Candish, and Raleigh fill the 8th; but they afford nothing of much value to the botanist. The work of Acosta is inserted in the 9th; as are also the voyages of Sebald de Weerdt and Oliver de Noort, through the straits of Magelhaens, in 1602. These are merely narratives of nautical and sea-faring occurrences. The inquirer finds, in the 10th part, the two voyages of Americus Vespuccius, Hamar's account of Virginia, and J. Smith's Colony of Penobscot. These events reach to 1619. The 11th and 12th comprehend Anthony de Herrera's History of the West Indies, with the voyages of Le Maire and Schouten. The former of these has been published in English and French, separately, and in collections at different times and places. The latter are barren of botany. The 13th and 14th parts, which were added in 1627, are merely noted here, as portions of American history. The two De Brys, father and son, made another collection of voyages and travels; but as these relate to adventures and discoveries in the East Indies, a particular examination of it would be a departure from the course I have prescribed to myself. 1599-1600. About the end of this century, and the commencement of the next, came forth Richard Hackluyt's principal navigations, voyages and discoveries of the English nation, by sea and land, in three volumes, folio, at London. In reciting the journeys, travels, and labours of his heroes, he has faithfully inserted the passages of their writings that relate to the history of vegetables, more especially of those which are employed in dyeing, and the other arts, and those used in trade, and for merchandize. He published at the same place, in 1619, a translation of a Portuguese tract, entitled" Virginia richly valued by the description of Florida, her neighbour." History of American Botany during the seventeenth century. For the purpose of avoiding a separation of subjects conveniently connected, a few of the materials appertaining in strict chronology to this period of time, were anticipated in the preceding division of this discourse. In proceeding to enumerate the men who have contributed to improve our knowledge of this department of history, and bring to your recollection the records of their exertions, I |