In 1798 he sailed for Charleston, S.C.Nominated successively vice-consul at Wilmington and consul at New York, but not obtaining his exequatur from President Adams, he went to live with the botanist Michaux in Carolina in his botanical garden, where he devoted himself to natural history until the quarrel in 1800 between the United States and France caused him to return to France.

On his return he sent North American insects to his friends Fabricius and Olivier, fishes to Lacepede, birds to Daudin, reptiles to Latreille.

Not giving all his time to public life, he devoted himself to natural history, horticulture, and agriculture, succeeding Thouin in the chair of horticulture, where he was most usefully employed until his death .-- (Cuvier's _Eloge_.) [43] The first director of the Board or Assembly of Professors-administrative of the Museum was Daubenton, Lacepede being the secretary, Thouin the treasurer.

Daubenton was succeeded by Jussieu; and Lacepede, first by Desfontaines and afterwards by Lamarck, who was elected secretary 18 fructidor, an II.

(1794).
[44] His attendance this year was infrequent.