504 APPENDIX. 



in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, as may tend to that purpose. 

 He says, under date April, 1877 : 



It is a rather difficult task, especially to one whose life is not such as to serve as an 

 example for ihe imitation of others. But this I can say, that my family (in America), 

 beginning with James Wroth, Esq., who emigrated from England in or about 1660, 

 can trace back the name to one who bore the name of De Wrotham, in the reign 

 of King John. 



The family in England held a very respectable rank in society, as a genealogy sent 

 to me by John Newton Lane, Esq., of King's Bromley Manor, near Lichfield, in 

 1854, informs me. Mr. Lane descended from Mary Wroth, the eldest daughter of 

 Sir Henry Wroth. I was of the fifth generation after James, and was born April 7, 

 1786, being now 91 years old on the 7th of this month. Before I left college 1 was 

 adopted by a cousin of my father, and intended as a student of law under Hon. James 

 A. Bayard, of Delaware, the grandfather of Hon. T. F. Bayard, now a Senator of the 

 United States, the office held by his father and grandfather. But he who had adopted 

 me dying before my father, I was persuaded to study medicine, and began to practise 

 in 1807, and after the age of 70 retired from public life, and, 1S68, removed to Balti- 

 more. Having been baptized by your distinguished ancestor, the first Principal of my 

 (Washington) college, I have always felt an interest in that college, and finished my 

 course there in 1803 under Rev. Dr. C. Ferguson, the second Principal, the successor 

 i)f your ancestor, then Provost (I think) of the University of Pennsylvania. 



I practised fifty years, lacking two months. Of myself I can only say that I think I 

 held a respectable rank among ray contemporary physicians, and about 1840 or 184I 

 I'ublished a small volume under the title of "Clinical Aphorisms," /^r beginiiers. I 

 afterwards wrote Brief Memoirs of the twelve physicians of my county (Kent) who 

 were in practice before the act of " Incorporating the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty 

 of Maryland" was passed — at the request of the eminent Dr. George C. M. Roberts, 

 laie of this city, who contemplated a work on tliat portion of the faculty; but which 

 of course was not published. 



Under date February 8, 1872, he says: 



Your ancestor, Rev. William Smith, D. D., was Rector of I. U. Parish, Kent county, 

 the church in Chestertown being at that time a chapel of ease, where he regularly 

 preached, and lived in Chestertown. I have many, many times been in the house 

 where he lived, and almost feel as if I had been acquainted with him — having been 

 baptized by him and afterwards an alumnus of the college of which he was the first 

 Principal. I will here send you one or two anecdotes which, I am confident, are 

 authentic. 



On some occasion a man from the country was in his house, and being in the 

 library with the doctor, and amazed at the great number of books, exclaimed, " My — • 

 my! Doctor, did you ever read all these books ? " The doctor replied : " Hoot, mon, 

 no; but I know what's in 'em." This was during the doctor's residence in Chester — 

 from about 1780 to — . Before that time he lived in Philadelphia. About the 

 commencement of the Revolution of 1776 the gentlemen of Philadelphia were in the 

 habit of meeting every day in the (jld City Hall, in Market street below Third. One 

 day the meeting had taken place, and after a while Dr. Smith entered the hall. Dr. 

 Benjamin Rush was there, and, walking up to the doctor, said: " Dr. Smith, we have 



