1865.] 177 [Gross. 



independent fortune, which was considerably augmented, in 1849, by 

 the death of his uncle, William Short, Esq., of Philadelphia, of 

 whose estate he was one of the principal heirs. To this uncle Dr. 

 Short was greatly attached ; he made him not only frequent visits but 

 maintained a constant correspondence with him, his letters, down to 

 the time of his death, numbering upwards of five hundred. From a me- 

 morandum now before me it seems that he was a native of Virginia, 

 having been born in Surry County in that State in 1759. " His life, 

 public and private," records the tombstone erected to his memory at 

 Laurel Hill Cemetery, "was distinguished by ability, probity and in- 

 dustry never questioned. He received from President Washington, 

 with the unanimous approval of the Senate, the first appointment to 

 public ofiice conferred under the Constitution of the United States; 

 and from President Jefferson, whose affectionate friendship he always 

 largely possessed, proofs of similar confidence." Mr. Short lived for 

 a considerable time in France, first as secretary to Mr. Jefferson, and 

 afterwards as a private citizen. He was at Paris during the most 

 eventful period in the history of France, and, indeed, of all Europe. 

 As a citizen of Philadelphia, he occupied a prominent position, and 

 enjoyed the confidence and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances 

 and admiring friends. 



His botanical researches brought Dr. Short in relation with many 

 of the most distinguished scientific men of P]urope and America. 

 Prominent, among the former, were Sir William Hooker, director of 

 the Royal Gardens at Kew, near London ; De Candolle, of France ; 

 Joachim Steets, of Hamburg; Professor C. F. Meisner, of Switzer- 

 land ; Uzrelli, of Italy ; Thomas Nuttall and Mr. Wilson, of Eng- 

 land. With Sir William Hooker, whose death at the age of eighty 

 was only recently recorded, he was in constant communication for up- 

 wards of twenty years, and a large volume of his letters is now in the 

 possession of the family. This correspondence, begun as a purely 

 professional one, soon ripened into the most intimate intercourse, 

 which manifested itself in various acts of kindness and the inter- 

 change of little mementoes, always gratifying to scientific men. 



His American correspondents were too numerous to be mentioned. 

 Among the most valued and distinguished were Asa G-ray, Torrey, 

 Darlington, Bachman, Agassiz, Engelmann, Audubon, Meade, Carey, 

 Curtis, Lapham, and Durand. Dr. Gray was a warm friend of Dr. 

 Short, and soon after his death he published in Silliman's Journal, a 

 beautiful and appropriate tribute to his memory. 



He was a member of various scientific societies, both foreign and 

 domestic. After his death, a number of diplomas were found among 



