258  William  Procter,  Jr.  {Am  jJu°nuer;imrm* 
we  find  him  occupying  the  position  of  Secretary  of  the  College 
Committee  for  the  Revision  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia. 
Later,  in  February,  1844,  he  purchased  the  property  at  the  south, 
west  corner  of  Lombard  and  Ninth  Streets,  Philadelphia,  and  fitted 
it  up  as  a  drug  store.  A  glimpse  of  his  character  may  be  afforded 
by  the  following  extract  from  his  diary  written  at  this  period :  "  I 
am  about  to  leave  Sixth  and  Pine  Streets,  after  so  long  a  residence. 
What  singular  events  occur  !  Little  did  such  a  prospect  appear 
probable  some  years  ago.  Steadiness  and  calmness  of  mind,  how 
important  to  the  proper  appreciation  of  life  !  This  I  daily  become 
more  convinced  of,  and  find  cause  to  note  the  want  of  it  in  my  own 
case.  Reflection  steadily  and  calmly  directed  to  moral  and  intellec- 
tual improvement,  with  all  the  rigor  of  justice,  and  all  the  affection 
of  mercy,  how  few  can  truly  govern  themselves !  I  have  made 
little  progress  in  this  all-improving  power,  and  have  too  frequent 
cause  to  regret  acts  of  indiscretion  and  weakness." 
On  May  12,  1844,  his  store  was  opened,  and  his  trials  began.  He 
wrote  in  his  diary  three  months  after  his  store  was  opened :  "  It  has 
been  a  time  of  singular  discomfort  to  me.  The  anxiety  attending 
the  opening  of  a  new  store,  and  the  much  time  employed  has  been 
very  burdensome.  I  need  more  faith  and  confidence  in  the  course 
of  events."  The  neighborhood  of  Ninth  and  Lombard  Streets 
-would  not  have  presented  many  attractive  prospects  to  most  begin- 
ners, particularly  to  one  so  well  qualified  as  Mr.  Procter  for  advanced 
work  in  pharmacy.  The  square  on  the  south  side  of  Pine  Street, 
between  Eighth  and  Ninth,  was  an  open  lot,  and  the  next  street 
below  was  the  boundary  of  the  city  proper,  and  beyond,  many 
lawless  associations  were  in  full  force.  Steadily  and  quietly,  how- 
ever, Mr.  Procter  made  his  way  and  "bided  his  time."  He 
employed  his  leisure  moments  in  devising  new  preparations,  and, 
having  a  great  love  for  individual  investigation,  there  is  no  question 
that  at  this  period  of  his  life  valuable  seed  was  sown  which  gave 
a  bent  and  direction  to  his  future  life,  from  which  the  profession  of 
pharmacy  has  derived  such  lasting  benefit.  Had  he  been  launched 
directly  upon  a  thriving  and  flourishing  business  career,  it  is  quite 
possible  that  Mr.  Procter  would  have  closed  his  life  richer  in  this 
world's  goods,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  would  have  had  the 
leisure  to  give  so  much  self-sacrificing  labor  to  the  interests  of  his 
profession,  and  to  the  lasting  good  of  his  followers.  The  neighbor- 
hood, however,  gradually  improved,  the  extension  of  the  city  made 
