comte d'angiviller (1730–1810) who had been appointed director of the "jardin du roi" on the death of the famous naturalist buffon (1707–1788). by january 1786, michaux wrote to count d’angiviller that a further shipment of 12 boxes of trees had been sent and that a 29-acre plot had been selected for the royal garden in the vicinity of new york at maisland in bergen, new jersey on the western slope of hudson palisades, adjacent to extensive woods where seeds and young trees could be obtained. a house of 4 rooms was constructed, michaux purchasing 2 horses and a cart together with tools, and saunier was placed in charge. his pay was meagre and requests, including one by thouin, were made that he be allowed to cultivate parts of the garden for himself, which was granted.