BartramJohn, one of the most distinguished of American botanists, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1701. His grandfather, of the same name, accompanied William Penn to this country, in 1682. - B. was a simple farmer. He cultivated the ground for subsistence, while he indulged an insatiable appetite for botany. He was self-taught in that science, and in the rudiments of the learned languages, and medicine and surgery. So great, in the end, was his proficiency in his favourite pursuit, that Linnsus pronounced him "the greatest natural botanist in the world." He made excursions, in the intervals of agricultural labour, to Florida and Canada, herborizing with intense zeal and delight. At the age of 70, he performed a journey to East Florida, to explore its natural productions; at a period, too, when the toils and dangers of such an expedition far exceeded those of any similar one which could be undertaken, at the present time, within the limits of the U. States. He first formed a botanic garden in America, for the cultivation of American plants, as well as exotics. This garden, which is situated on the banks of the Schuylkill, a few miles from Philadelphia, still bears his name.

He contributed much to the gardens of Europe, and corresponded with the most distinguished naturalists of that quarter of the globe. Several foreign societies and academies bestowed their honours upon him, and published communications from him in their transactions. B. died in 1777, in the 76th year of his age. At the time of his death he held the office of American botanist to George III. of England. He was amiable and charitable, and of the strictest probity and temperance.

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BartramWilliam, fourth son of John B., was born, 1739, at the botanic garden, Kingsessing, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16 years, he was placed with a respectable merchant of Philadelphia, with whom he continued six years; after which he went to North Carolina, with a view of doing business there as a merchant; but, being ardently attached to the study of botany, he re-linquished his mercantile pursuits, and accompanied his father in a journey into East Florida, to explore the natural productions of that country; after which he settled on the river St. John's, in this region, and finally returned, about the year 1771, to his father's residence. In 1773, at the request of Dr. Fothergill, of London, he embarked for Charleston, to examine the natural productions of the Floridas, and the western parts of Carolina and Georgia, chiefly in the vegetable kingdom. In this employment he was engaged nearly live years, and made numerous contributions to the natural history of the country through which he travelled.

His collections and drawings were forwarded to Doctor Fothergill; and, about the year 1790, he published an account of his travels and discoveries, in 1 vol. 8vo., with an account of the manners and customs of the Creeks, Cherokees, and Choctaws. This work soon acquired extensive popularity, and is still frequently consulted. - After his return from his travels, he devoted himself to science, and, in 1782, was elected Professor of Botany in the University of Pennsylvania, which post he declined, in consequence of the state of his health. In 17S6, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, and was a member of several other learned societies in Europe and America. We are indebted to him for the knowledge of many curious and beautiful plants peculiar to North America, and for the most complete and correct table of American ornithology, before the work of Wilson, who was assisted by him in the commencement of his American Ornithology. He wrote an article on the natural history of a plant a few minutes before his death, which happened suddenly, by the rup ture of a blood vessel in the lungs, July 20. 1823, in the 85th year of his age. 6