Here we may digress to say, McMahon was in his way a plant-hunter and patron of science, so much so as to induce Nuttall to name the genus Mahonia in his honor. I was pleased to hear, Mr. Editor, that it is your intention to republish the memoir of him which you appended to the late edition of his work superintended by yourself.

John Lyon, a Scotchman - sprung from that staid and thrifty class of peasantry, whose sons have furnished so many bright examples in art, literature and science - succeeded Pursh, as the superintendent of the Woodlands, during its palmy days. Lyon ultimately relinquished the position to become a practical plant-hunter, with a view to their exportation to Europe. In that pursuit he made extensive journeys, preserving his accumulated gatherings at my father's nursery, until they amounted to a sufficiency to authorize a trip; thus he made alternate journeys of collection and voyages across the Atlantic. Mr. Editor, you well remember the Magnolias, Halesias, Stuartias, Virgilias, Gardonias, Pinckneyeas, and other then rare native trees and shrubs, which decorated the old place - they were mainly the contributions of Mr. Lyon. In one of his tours of exploration, whilst in Tennessee, he was overtaken by a fever incident to that region, and died with strangers only to pay "the last sad offices." Such is the danger to which the plant-hunter is subject Though then but a child, I recollect him well. He was, for years, when at Philadelphia, an inmate of my father's family, and at one period acted as an amateur tutor to the writer of this sketch.

I judge he found it no " delightful task" to "Teach his young ideas how to shoot".

Mr. Lyon was an amiable, well bred, intelligent man, of most sterling worth, and a loyal Briton. Well do I remember the contempt and incredulity with which he was wont to read in Poulson's Daily Advertizer the tidings of Buonaparte's Peninsular successes and his joy when he was despatched to Elba.

About this period came Whitlaw, whom no doubt, Mr. Editor, you distinctly remember; once seen and heard, his image could never be obliterated. His portly person, ruby face, and broad Scotch accent, with a tone of confident assurance which told of perfect self satisfaction, made an indelible impress on my youthful mind. Whitlaw delivered a weak course of lectures on botany, aided by a series of transparencies.

Shortly subsequent to Lyon came another plant-hunter, Thomas Nuttall. Though more than forty years ago, I distinctly remember the first time I saw him, standing beside my father, in the dusk of a summer's evening; a stranger, of quiet manner and careless toilet, presented a letter, which proved an introduction from Frazer, a botanist of some repute, who had been a plant-hunter in America. Nuttall had previously been in this country in the capacity of a journeyman printer. What first directed his attention to botany is unknown; he at that time knew nothing of plants; in his own words, not even" a smilax from a passion-flower," and actually mistook the former for the latter 1 Mr. Nuttall is so well remembered by Philadelphians, of botanical taste - indeed by all in every department of science - at least of the generation which is daily lessening, that any description of him would be almost superfluous.

In 1818, he published his "Genera of American Plants," which it has been said, "gave a new impulse to botanical studies in this country." Nearly simultaneously therewith he delivered a highly successful course of lectures on botany at the old hall of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Arch street, at which I recollect seeing that able botanist, the Abbe Correa De Serra, the Portuguese Ambassador and Perpetual Secretary to the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, himself a plant-hunter, and in whose honor was named the genus Corraa. In 1821, Nuttall published " Travels in Arkansas," being notes of a journey in search of plants. Though the bent of his mind was to precise studies, he had descriptive and reflective powers of more than ordinary beauty, and had he cultivated literature as ardently as science, he would assuredly have reached distinction.

Nuttall's perseverance in the study of his favorite branch of science was ultimately rewarded by a Professorship at Cambridge, and no man could have worn his honors with "greater modesty. He ultimately resigned his chair, and returned to England, having been made independent by the decease of a paternal uncle, who, to correct what he no doubt deemed his wandering habits, coupled the enjoyment of the estate with the condition that he should reside in England a fixed portion of each year, himself, poor man, innocently unconscious his nephew had immortalized the name of Nuttall. He still resides near Liverpool, and is just now devoted to Rhododendrons. These rambling sketches of plant-hunters might be more extended, they are already too long, yet I cannot close without referring to another, if, indeed, it be admissible thus publicly to mention one, "Whose modesty if only equalled by his virtues".

Doctor Darlington, of West Chester, author of "Flora Cestrica," and who, in his own quiet, unobtrusive way, has done much to advance botanical taste, and has conferred a further obligation on his countrymen by his charming book, "Memorials of Bartram and Marshall," to which, Mr. Editor, I beg you, once more, direct the attention of your readers; you can scarcely do them a greater service. L.