BOTANY AT ST. LOUIS 249 



In September 1840, Mr. Shaw made his first visit to Europe, stop- 

 ping on his way at Eochester, New York, where his parents and sisters 

 resided. He took an extended tour on the continent and, returning to 

 St. Louis in the autumn of 1843, arranged his affairs for another ab- 

 sence in Europe. This lasted for about three years, during which time 

 he visited all of the accessible European localities, together with Con- 

 stantinople and Egypt. A journey to Palestine was prevented by the 

 prevalence of the plague in that country. 



Early in 1851 his last trip abroad was made, the first World's Fair 

 being then held in London. While on this visit the idea first occurred 

 to him to make a garden of his own, modeled after those which are so 

 well known upon the great private estates of England. Mr. Shaw re- 

 turned in December, 1851; the mansion at Tower Grove had been fin- 

 ished in 1849, and the one on the corner of Seventh and Locust streets 

 was then being built. After this time he was in St. Louis, with the ex- 

 ception of short summer vacations at the Atlantic coast or the northern 

 lakes. Seemingly a man of leisure, he was really a very busy man for 

 the next thirty years, and was never an idler until compelled to be. 



In 1857 the late Dr. Engelmann, who was then in Europe, was com- 

 missioned by Mr. Shaw to examine botanical gardens and to obtain such 

 suggestions as he might think of value. About this time a correspond- 

 ence was begun with Sir William J. Hooker, Director of Kew Gardens, 

 who wrote on August 10, 1857 : 



Very few appendages to a garden of this kind are of more importance for 

 instruction than a library and economic museum, and these gradually increase 

 like a rolling snowball. 



Accordingly, Mr. Shaw in 1858-9 erected a building for this pur- 

 pose. The selection of books was entrusted largely to Dr. Engelmann 

 in consultation with Hooker, Decaisne, Alexander Braun and others of 

 his botanical friends. At the same time Dr. Engelmann urged upon 

 Mr. Shaw the purchase of the herbarium of the recently deceased Pro- 

 fessor Bernhardi, of Erfurth, Germany, which was offered at a very 

 small price. Hooker wrote January 1, 1858 : 



He [Engelmann] tells me of the herbarium of the late Dr. Bernhardi, of 

 Erfurth, which he expects to buy for St. Louis. That ought to be a good com- 

 mencement for the more scientific part of the establishment. . . . The state 

 ought to feel that it owes you much for so much public spirit, and so well 

 directed. 



Mr. Shaw has told that he at one time planned a grand school of 

 botany, with residences for the faculty, laboratories, etc., opposite the 

 main gate; but he abandoned the project because of the advice of Dr. 

 Asa Gray. 



In 1866 Mr. Shaw secured the services of Mr. James Gurney from 

 the Koyal Botanical Gardens of London, whose practical experience and 



