PlIOCKEDIXGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [JaU , 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF CHARLES EASTWICK SMITH. 

 BY inOMAS MEEIIAN. 



Appoinled to prepare a incnioir of our late fellow-meniber, 

 Charles E. Smith, the author feels strongly a difficulty he has 

 experienced on similar occasions. The members of the Academy 

 meet for mutual improvement and study. The various subjects 

 in 'which they take interest become the chief topics of conver- 

 sation. They know little of the outside life of one another. A tree 

 is to be known only by its fruit. As it grows through successive 

 years it appears much like other trees, and no note is taken of the 

 incidents of its growth ; but Avhen the harvest time arrives, and 

 all are in praise of the bountiful crop, carrying pleasure and profit 

 around it in every direction, a natural desire arises to know more of 

 the details of such a happy career, — a desire that can only be sat- 

 isfied by recalling circumstances imperfectly remembered, or that 

 have but little bearing on the character w'e would illustrate. 



So when the subject of this memoir passed away few of his asso- 

 ciates could aid the author. All knew that he was one of Phila- 

 delphia's most prominent citizens ; ihat he had been at the head 

 of some of its great business bodies ; that he had been largely 

 concerned with the city's good name and progress; that he had 

 long been a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil- 

 adelphia, especially interested in botany and kindred subjects, a 

 liberal contributor through the greater part of his life to its build- 

 ing funds, its collections and general progress, and that on his 

 death it was found that he had generously provided for its future 

 out of his rich estate. But few knew more than all knew. In- 

 deed, but for aid from Dr. Edward J. Nolan and Dr. Thomas C. 

 Porter the author would have been left solely to his own recollec- 

 tions and the replies to letters of inquiry sent to friends of our 

 departed associate for material for his task. 



His full name was Charles Eastwick Smith— Eastwick being the 

 maiden name of his grandmother. He was the second of that 

 name in the family, the first dyine: before he was born. His 



