138 



THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



The general government, however, was not unmindful 

 of his abilities, and the Secretary of War appointed him 

 visitor to AVest Point, and acknowledged his services on 

 that occasion and the valuable suggestions in his report, in 

 the warmest manner. 



The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1825 was 

 aroused by the booming of the cannon that announced the 

 completion of that great work of internal improvement, 

 projected by De Witt Clinton, and executed by the Empire 

 State, which connected the great lakes with the Atlantic 

 Ocean. She then commenced her own grand scheme of 

 canals and railroads which so much benefited the interior 

 of the State. Dr. Darlington was one of the members of the 

 first board of Canal Commissioners, and was associated with 

 such men as Albert Gallatin, John Sergeant, Robert W. 

 Patterson and David Scott, whose names hold a distinguished 

 place in our country's annals. He served in that station 

 two years, during the last of which he was president of the 

 board. 



The duties alluded to, however, though arduous and 

 exacting, did not prevent Dr. Darlington from bestowing 

 some attention to natural science, and indulging his taste 

 for botany. In 1826, in conjunction with some of his 

 intimate friends, he assisted in organizing the Chester 

 County Cabinet of Natural Science, of which institution he 

 was president from its origin ; and in the same year he 

 published " Florula Cestrica," being a catalogue of plants 

 growing around the borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 

 The arduous duties of the office of Canal Commissioner, 

 being then performed gratuitously, and calling him away 

 from home more than was either convenient or agreeable, 

 he resigned that office the next year, and was almost 



