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 to the knowledge of his generation. Nor was he in his own lifetime denied his meed of praise, especially for his botanical work. Contemporary reviews of his books were usually appreciative; a fellow-member of the American Philosophical Society left this testimony: "No other explorer of the botany of North America has, personally, made more discoveries; no writer on American plants, except perhaps Professor Asa Gray, has described more new genera and species. His name will live as long as our Flora remains an object of study."

The journal of the Arkansas journey, reprinted in the present volume, while primarily interesting to the scientist is not without value for the historian. The author was fairly well acquainted with the principal printed accounts of Spanish and French exploration in the region, as well as with the reports of the previous American visitors. But Nuttall's historical statements are not invariably accurate; the value of the work lies in the record of his personal observations, from which we obtain often graphic descriptions of the settled portions of the Arkansas country and the state of civilization prevalent there in 1819. Neither does our author neglect the Indians, in whom he was much interested. His book ranks high as a source of information regarding the native tribes of that region, especially the Quapaw; although such of his information as was obtained second hand needs the corrective of critical study.

In the preparation of this volume for the press, the Editor has had the assistance of Homer C. Hockett, fellow in American history in the University of Wisconsin.

R. G. T.

, February, 1905.