136 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



the following year. He availed himself of the leisure 

 afforded him in the long voyage to make an acquaintance 

 with some of the best works then extant in English litera- 

 ture. A sketch of the observations during this voyage was, 

 some years afterwards, published in the form of familiar 

 letters in the Analedic Magazine. 



In the year succeeding his return from Calcutta, he 

 settled in West Chester, and resumed the practice of 

 medicine, and was soon in the enjoyment of an extensive 

 and profitable business ; for on the first of June, 1808, he 

 w;)s married to Catherine, daughter of General John Lacey, 

 of New Jersey, an officer who had served with credit and 

 ability in the Revolutionary War. 



Always anxious for self-improvement. Dr. Darlington 

 commenced the German language about that time under 

 a private tutor, and soon made himself sufficiently 

 familiar with it to be enabled to enter into the spirit and 

 enjoy the beauties of the great writers of that tongue. 



Feeling as much interest in the subject of general, as 

 well as of self-education, in the year 1811, he was made a 

 trustee and secretary of the West Chester Academy, then 

 about to be built, an institution which gave the first great 

 impulse to popular education in his native county, and 

 which has since sent forth from its walls men who have 

 Ijecome distinguished in literature, science and the arts, and 

 who owe their success in life to tlie knowledge there 

 received. 



When the war with England broke out in 1812, the 

 subject of this sketch, with other young men of the neigh- 

 borhood, offered their services in defence of the altars and 

 firesides of their country in case of invasion. A volunteer 

 company was formed and drilled at AVest Chester, ready to 



