he had for some time looked with hope to an exploration of Mount
Katahdin.
  In business Dr. Young was unstable, a fact shown to be true by
the frequent changes he is known to have made. Under these condi-
tions, the matter of financing his botanical work was an obstacle to
his ambitions.
   In 1847 he appealed to the legislature for an appropriation for a
Botanical Survey of thé State. He was most fortunate in being on
the most friendly terms with Elijah L. Hamlin and other influential
members of the legislature.
   Mr. Hamlin presented. in the House the memorial and resolve ask-
 ing for $600 for the purpose, though he realized, and informed Aaron
 that " this is not enough" but ail that he believed it possible to secure
 at that time. He was keenly interested in the measure, and every
 week from the time of introduction of the resolve, May 23d., to that
 of its final passage by the Senate, June 25th., he wrote Aaron report-
 ing the progress and the prospects of the document. The measure had
 been referred to a committee of 13 from the House and 5 from the
 Senate, and at the close of two sittings it was given a unanimous
 favorable report. It was approved by Governor Dana, July 3, 1847.
   Though the appropriation was small, the requirements placed upon
 the appointee were not correspondingly stinted.
 Acts and Resolves Twenty-seventh Legislature.
 Chapter 11. Resolve authorizing a botanical survey of the State.
 Resolved, That the Governor with the advice and consent of the council
   is hereby authorized to employ some suitable person to make a botanical
   survey of the State.
*Resolved, That the person who shall be employed to make said survey
   shall deposit a complete suit of specimens of the flora of the State
   properly preserved and prepared, and suitably, labeled and arranged,
   and deposit the same in the public buildings, as the property of the
   state, and such person shall furnish such duplicates of said specimens
   as the governor and council may direct to be disposed of by them as
   they shall think proper.
 Resolved, That the sum of six hundred dollars be appropriated from the
   treasury, subject to the discretion of the governor and council to be
   expended by them in defraying the expense of said survey, upon such
   terms and conditions as they may think best, provided, that said survey
   can be finished for said sum.
                                       (Approved July 3, 1847)
   Mr. Hamlin had approached Dr. Ezekiel Holmes, among others, on
 the subject of the survey, before he had decided that there was a fair
 prospect for the passage of the resolve, and had found Dr. Holmes
 in its favor.


Rhodora


[JANUARY