Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/359

 THOMAS JEFFERSON IN RELATION TO BOTANY 3S3

Bartram is exceedingly anxious to get a large supply of seeds of the Ken- tacky coffee tree. I told him I would use all mj interest with you to obtain it, as I think I heard you say some neighbors of yours had a large number of trees. Be so good as to take measures for bringing a good quantity, if pos- sible, to Bartram when you come to Congress.

During his stay in Paris from 1784 to 1789, Jefferson had made the acquaintance of many men of science, and his reputation brought him many correspondence-acquaintances. When, therefore, the French Eev- olntion, later became European chaos through the deeds of Napoleon, many men of science found little opportunity to pursue their studies. JeJfferson received letters from several of these friends who desired a quiet haven in America. The University of Geneva, with Edinburgh, declared by JefEerson to be the "eyes of Europe" was involved in the general disaster. Washington, having received a present from Vir- ginia in the shape of some shares in the Potomac and James River Companies, desired to place them where in some far-reaching way they might work for the public good, and before bestowing them sought Jef- ferson's advice. With a boldness which was characteristic of him when great opportunities were in sight, JefEerson proposed to Washington the transfer bodily of the University of Geneva to some place near the Federal city (Washington) where it should become the beginning of the National University of America. He proposed the organization of a professorship in agriculture which should present this branch in a series of lectures. The University was not transferred and Jeflferson's glorious dream faded. One can not but ponder what such a transfer would have meant to America. The germ of the most important work in plant physiology lay in two members of that faculty. Through the epoch-making work of Theodor de Saussure and of Jean Senebier, aided by their above condemned Austrian colleague Ingenhauss, the foundations for the understanding of the processes of photosynthesis and respiration were laid. At the time this bold conception captured Jefferson these men were approaching their prime, only a few years later to dazzle the world of science with their brilliant achievements. Had that work been performed at the new National University of America situated near the Federal city one of the great ideals of Jeffer- son's life would have been realized.

The relation of Jefferson to science and botany in particular up to the time of his first presidency had been essentially that of a keenly interested and very intelligent amateur. He had been an intermediary between scientists, had on several occasions expressed his own views on current scientific problems and in some cases had anticipated the specialists themselves.

In 1802, however, the greatest scientific opportunity of his life came to Jefferson with the purchase of Louisiana. At this time there came under the flag of the United States a vast unknown area for ex- ploration and settlement. The Missouri Biver with St. Louis as a start- ing point had for years been a highway into that country swarming with

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