fessor of Medicine and Botany in the University of Upsal, etc. Ditto, 14 Pquarto, accompanied with a plate of the plant to which Dr. Barton gave name of Jeffersonia, in honor of Thomas Jefferson.

"4. An account of the fascinating faculty which has been ascribed to rattle-snake and other North American serpents. Vol. 4th of the Philo. Tra 40 pages quarto. (This paper afterwards appeared in the form of a sepa: work, as has been mentioned, and went through two editions.)

"5. Some account of an American species of dipus or jerboa. Ditto, v an engraving of the animal. I pages quarto.

"6. Observations and conjectures concerning certain articles which taken out of an ancient tumulus or grave, at Cincinnati, in the county of Haton, and territory of the United States, northwest of the Ohio; in a letter to Priestley. Ditto, 36 pages quarto.

"7. Hints relative to the stimulant effects of camphor upon vegetab Ditto, 3 pages quarto.

"8. Some account of the poisonous and injurious honey of North Ameri Vol. 5, Phil. Trans. 16 pages quarto.

"9. Memorandum concerning a new vegetable muscipula. Vol. 6, P: Trans. 3 pages quarto.

"10. Some account of a new species of North American lizard. Ditto, pages quarto, with an engraving of the animal.

“11. Supplement to the account of the dipus Americana, in the 4th vol. the transactions of the Am. Ph. Society. Ditto, 2 pages quarto.

"12. Hints on the etymology of certain English words, and on their affinity to words in the languages of different European, Asiatic, and American (Indian nations, in a letter to Dr. Thomas Beddoes. Ditto, 13 pages.

"13. At a special meeting of the Philosophical Society, February 24, 1804 Dr. Barton was chosen to deliver an eulogium upon Dr. Priestley.

"14. In February, 1800, he read to the Am. Phil. Society an extensive memoir, entitled "A geographical view of the trees and shrubs of North America."

"15. A memoir (which gained the Magellanic premium) concerning a considerable number of pernicious insects of the United States.

"Professor Zimmerman translated into German the memoir (Transactions Phil. Society) on the bite of the rattle-snake. Also the memoir on the fascinating faculty of the rattle-snake, etc., to which last he added notes, and an introduction in the German language of 22 pages duodecimo.

"The Elements of Botany have been republished in London, and translated into the Russian language at St. Petersburgh."

Professor Barton married (1797) a daughter of Mr. Edward Pennington, of Philadelphia, two children, a boy and a girl, and the mother, surviving him. The son, Thomas Pennant Barton, was "American Chargé d'Affaires at Paris, July, 1836."

Two portraits of Professor B. S. Barton are in existence, one an engraving in his biography by his nephew, W. P. C. Barton, the other being in the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science.

The portrait we present is from the Popular Science Monthly, and a reproduction of that in his biography. It presents the forcible, thoughtful face of a cultured gentleman of Colonial times.

In this connection it may be well to let his nephew, the biographer alluded to, give the description of the man and his methods:

"The ardent thirst for literary fame, which strongly marked the character of Professor Barton through life, rendered him a most indefatigable student from his earliest youth. He read much, wrote a great deal, and contemplated nature with unceasing attention. His numerous publications afford, of themselves, sufficient proofs of an uncommon degree of industry; but, besides these, he was long engaged in collecting materials for other works, and preparing some for the press; all of which, it is greatly to be regretted, will now probably be lost to the world.

"Amidst his professional avocations, which were numerous-the duties of his station as a medical teacher, which were arduous—and a considerable portion of his time that was occupied in keeping up an epistolary correspondence with distinguished men of science, as well in the old world as in his own countryamidst all these occupations, it is a matter of surprise, that he could have found a sufficiency of leisure for his multitudinous pursuits in literature and science : and the more especially when it is taken into view, that he was frequently impeded in these pursuits by the privation of health.

Among the most distinguished of these are the following named:

The count de la Cépède, peer of France, etc., to whom Dr. Barton dedicated the quarto edition of his memoir on the fascinating faculty of the rattle-snake. Professor E. A. W. Zimmerman, of Brunswick, in Germany. Professor J. A. H. Reimarus, of Hamburg.

Professor John Frederick Blumenbach, of Göttingen, to whom he dedicated his memoir on the disease of Goitre.

Mr. Thomas Pennant, the celebrated author of Arctic Zoology.

John Mason Good, Esq., F. R. S., etc., surgeon, of London, (well known by his poetical version of the songs of Solomon)—to whom he dedicated his Archæologiæ Americanæ Telluris, etc.

Dr. James Edward Smith, the learned president of the Linnæan Society of London, to whom he dedicated the second editition of the first part of his Collections, etc.

Professor Autenrieth, of Tübingen.

Mr. Tilesius, an eminent naturalist of St. Petersburgh, Russia.

Monsieur Roume, of Paris, an intelligent French naturalist.

Mr. John Gottlob Schneider, of Saxony, a late celebrated writer on amphibious animals.
Dr. Patterson, of Londonderry, in Ireland.

Monsieur G. Cuvier, of Paris, the illustrious author of many learned works on organic geology, etc.

Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., the well-known liberal and munificent patron of literature and science.

Dr. John Walker, Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh.
Baron Humboldt.

Professor Pallas, of Russia.

Professor Sparrman, Sweden.

Professor Thunberg, Sweden.

Professor Burmann, of Holland.

"Natural history and botany were his favorite studies,* and in his inves gation of these branches of science he made a conspicuous figure. He er ployed much research respecting the origin of the tribes and nations of Ame ica, on which subject he has, I am persuaded, left many valuable manuscri materials. He was fond of investigating what may be termed the antiquities this country; and particularly interested in zoological inquiries.

"He was a skeptic in matters of science depending on human testimonyin fact, his incredulity was astonishing. He upheld the value of skepticism i his lectures, and in one of his publications he thus expresses himself: 'Credt lity is the most injurious feature in the character of the naturalist, as well as c the historian. Its influence, in one individual, is often felt and propagated through many ages. Unfortunately, too, it has been the vice of naturalists, o: those who have touched on questions relative to natural history.'

"The genius of Dr. Barton was of the highest grade: it was rapid, com prehensive, and brilliant in the extreme. He was well aware of the inefficacy and fruitlessness, however, of its unaided efforts; he did not rely, therefore, on the native powers of his mind alone, great as they were, but applied himself closely to the avocations of the closet. He was not only a man of extraordinary industry, but of quick perception and various information. His genius prompted him to conceive with celerity all the varied and diverse relations of those subjects to which the bent of his mind more particularly attached him— he was, therefore, a rapid writer. He possessed a memory remarkably, nay, extraordinarily tenacious and faithful, particularly with respect to facts and chronological events. He never forgot what he once determined to remember, hence he read with great advantage; and though his reading was always desultory, irregular, and to all appearance hasty, he was able to make the most profitable use of it. He possessed a good judgment, much imagination, and a taste for the fine arts. He was indeed a man of uncommon genius and excellent professional talents.

"As a medical teacher, he was eloquent, instructive, and, when occasion called for it, quite pathetic. His voice was good, though attenuated, penetrating, and sometimes rather sharp; his enunciation clear and distinct; his pro

*In the preface to his Elements of Botany he thus speaks of his attachment to these sciences: "The different branches of natural history, particularly zoology and botany, have been my favorite studies from a very early period of my life. The happiest hours of near sixteen years of cares, of difficulties, or of sickness, have been devoted to the cultivation of these interesting sciences. During this long period I have never ceased to look forward, as I still look forward, with an ardent satisfaction to the time when natural history (including botany) shall be taught as an indispensable branch of science in our University. That period, however, has not yet arrived. I have, however, the satisfaction of observing that these sciences are making some, nay, even great advances among us; and I still flatter myself that the directors of our principal American universities, or other seminaries of learning, but in particular, the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (in which all the branches of medicine are taught much more extensively than in any other part of the United States), will see the propriety, and even necessity, of giving more substantial encouragement for the extension of natural history among us."

nunciation constrained, and his emphasis, owing to his remarkable kind of punctuation and a desire to be perspicuously understood, was studied, forced, and often inappropriate. In his lectures his diction was cacophonous and unS pleasant.

"As a writer, he is ingenious, rich in facts, profound in research, and always abounding in useful information. He wanted, however, in a great degree, a talent for generalizing. Hence his various works are characterized by an egregious want of method, or perspicuous arrangement. His style, it must be cone fessed, is always diffuse, inelegant, and frequently tautological. As he never 2 corrected what he once wrote, or at least but rarely, these defects in his composition were the natural consequences of his vehemence in writing. His puncS tuation is truly remarkable, and, for a man of his discernment and extensive reading, singularly incorrect.

"As a physician, he discovered a mind quick in discriminating disease, skillful in the application of appropriate remedies, though he certainly was a very cautious, if not timid, practitioner. No man read more extensively on the subject of diseases; in fact, he was deeply versed in pathological knowledge, derived from books. As, however, his medical practice was never very extensive, his practical observations delivered in his lectures were strikingly marked with the evidences of overweening caution. Hence he recommended to his pupils, and always employed himself, unusually small doses of medicine. He was, however, in the main, an observing and intelligent practitioner, and was remarkably assiduous in his attentions, and soothing in his behavior to his patients.

"In figure he was tall, and exceedingly well formed; in middle life he might be considered as having been handsome. His physiognomy was strongly expressive of intelligence, and his eye was remarkably fine and penetrating.*

"In temperament he was irritable and even choleric. His spirits were irregular, his manners consequently variable, impetuous, vehement. These repeated vacillations between equanimity and depression, were generally owing to the sudden and repeated attacks of his continual earthly companion-irregular gout.

"In familiar conversation he was often elegant, remarkably facetious, but never witty.

"As a parent, he was kind, tender, and indulgent to a fault.

* The best likeness extant of Dr. Barton is the fine profile, done in mezzotinto, by St. Memim (the engraving prefixed to this sketch is copied from it) when the doctor was about thirty-seven years of age. The life-size crayon profile, from which the miniature mezzotinto was taken, is also a very good likeness: it is the property of the Pennsylvania Hospital, where it now is. His portrait of kit-kat-size, was painted while in England, by his ingenious friend and early protégé, Mr. Jennings: this was, at the time it was taken, a good likeness. And another, in a more finished style of painting, though certainly not a happy resemblance, was painted by Mr. Rembrant Peale, within the last two years of the doctor's life. Mr. Trott painted a fine miniature picture of him, which is in all respects, except the expression of the mouth, a most excellent likeness.

The execrable caricatures, now exposed for sale in the print-shops and book-stores, have only the most distant traces of resemblance.

"He possessed some high virtues; among the most elevated of them his unaffected love of country. Indeed, his patriotic feelings were not o strong, but frequently expressed with unreserved warmth. He always spe with extreme impatience of the arrogance of pretending foreigners of the li ary grade, too many of whom resort to our country, being nothing in their o and perpetually insult us by their vain and insufferable denunciations of c claims to national genius, talents, and learning."

That Professor Barton possessed not only a local and an enviable reputati abroad by reason of his labor in science is shown by the fact that he was member of the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, the Linnæan Socie of London, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the Danish Royal Socie of Sciences, and the Royal Danish Medical Society.

Several biographies of Professor B. S. Barton have appeared, among whic the following are most prominent, being the works consulted in this study:

Biography of Dr. W. P. C. Barton, in the revised "Elements of Botany, 1836. From this work, it seems, all the other biographies, including our own have been largely constructed.

A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania 1869, by Joseph Carson, pp. 126.

Sketch of Benjamin Smith Barton, Popular Science Monthly, 1896, p. 83(portrait, p. 720). Our portrait is copied from this print.

The Botanists of Philadelphia and Their Work, by John W. Harshberger Ph. D., 1899, pp. 108.

Having thus briefly recounted the part taken by Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton in scientific affairs about one hundred years ago, we may add that, in ou opinion, no other man in early American medicine made a more marked and lasting impress. His were the first efforts of any American teacher to call attention to our indigenous remedies in a prominent or systematic way.

The result of his guidance is seen in the numbers of theses on medicobotanical subjects that were evolved from the University of Pennsylvania during the period of his connection with that institution, a work that still redounds to its honor and credit.

"Barton's Collections" are referred to by all who study the history of American drugs, being the first English work on the subject. Long since out of print, this is a very rare volume.