126 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



splashing of the muddy water, the broad tails of their plain 

 coats standing out behind and their arms reaching out in 

 front, eager to secure the prize." Having acquired a wide 

 reputation as a mineralogist and a botanist, the subject 

 of this sketch was elected Professor of Botany in the 

 University of Pennsylvania, March 21, 1829, and delivered, 

 ]\Iay 1st, his introductory address. In Tlie Friend, of 

 May 9th, 1829, the late Robert Vaux, of Philadelphia, 

 gives the following account of the lecture : " With a suc- 

 cinct review of the history of botany, he very happily 

 blended some biographical notices of the distinguished men 

 to whom science owed its origin and illustration. He 

 traced, with great acuteness and perspicuity, the analogy of 

 vegetable and animal life, admitting the limit of human 

 knowledge. Every view that he furnished of the subject, 

 upon Avhich he is so well qualified to impart instruction, 

 was just and forcible, while the simplicity of his manner 

 and chasteness of his style were, by no means, the least 

 interesting traits of the lecturer." Frederick Fraley, Esq., 

 of Philadelphia, recently informed Dr. C. C. Abbot, who 

 is related to the Conrad family, that he attended the 

 lecture referred to, and that Mr. Vaux had not over- 

 drawn his account. He evidently died while occupying the 

 chair of botany in the University, for we find his name in 

 the catalogue for 1831, his death occurring October 2, 1831. 



Bibliography. 



1. "Remarks on the Osmunda Claytoniana of Linnseus " — Journal 

 Academy Natural Sciences, VI : 39. 



2. "Description of a new species of Juncus " — Journal Academy 

 Natural Sciences, VI : 105. 



3. "Notice of a new species of Corallorhiza " — Journal Academy 

 Natural Sciences, VI : 145. 



