THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 125 



Annals of New York Lyceum of KaUiral Hidory, vol. III. 

 His lierbariuin was purchased by his friend, Collins, from 

 whom it went to De Schweinitz, who bequeathed it to the 

 Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.'^ 



SOLOMON WHITE CONRAD. 



Solomon White Conrad f was a remarkable man, and 

 all who remember him make this statement without 

 reserve. He was also popular, for his house, as a natural 

 history salon, was a favorite gathering place for all the 

 scientific notables of the city. 



A descendant of Thones Kunders, who left Crefeld, 

 Germany, July 24, 1683, and settled at Germantown. 

 His father was John Conrad, a blacksmith, and Solomon 

 was born July 31, 1779. We know nothing positively as 

 as to his early life, but it is probable that he became an 

 apprentice of a printer or bookseller. A strong liking for 

 scientific study was early developed, and the fears of his 

 friends were realized that he would not be successful in 

 business. His partner ruined him financially. The out- 

 door world was more attractive than the shop on Market 

 Street, as the following quotation^ from the manuscript 

 journal of a nephew will show : " My father, * "^ * 

 with Solomon Conrad, would take long walks in search of 

 new specimens. I went with them once on a stroll along 

 the banks of the Schuylkill, when they saw, at the same 

 time, in the shallow bed of the river, a fine lot of mussels. 

 Both rushed to the spot, regardless of the rough stones and 



* 1843. Darlington — Reliquiae Bald winianfe ; Collins' Correspondence, Library 

 Philadelphia Academy; James' History of Major Long's Expedition, Philadelphia, 

 1823. 



t Vi9b— Popular Science Monthly, XLVII : 257, from which the main facts 

 given here are taken. 



X Quoted in Popular Science Monthly. 



