312 
Minutes  of  the  College. 
(  Am.  Jouit.  Pbabm. 
V     Nov.  1, 1873. 
greatly  relieved  from  bis  embarrassment,  gave  the  chief  some  money,  shook 
hands  with  each  of  the  troop,  gave  a  hearty  hurrah !  with  his  hat  off,  to  which 
the  Indians  responded  and  passed  on  their  way.  Continuing  his  journey  the 
snow  increased,  night  set  in  before  attaining  his  destination,  and  seeing  a  light 
dn  the  distance,  he  went  towards  it  for  shelter  until  morning. 
He  was  kindly  received,  and,  on  inquiry  for  Dr.  Troost  was  informed  that 
she  was  four  miles  out  of  his  way,  and  was  invited  to  remain.  A  death  had 
occurred  in  the  family,  many  relatives  had  gathered  to  attend  the  funeral  on 
the  morrow,  and  no  other  place  could  be  offered  him  for  lodging  than  the  room 
where  the  dead  man  was  laid  out.  This  was  not  objected  to,  and,  fatigued  with 
his  long  journey,  our  young  friend  slept  soundly,  and  arose  much  refreshed- 
Having  attended  the  funeral,  the  first  country  burial  he  had  seen  in  America, 
>he  was  greatly  surprised  at  the  dinner  feast  which  followed  on  the  return  of  the 
quests  to  the  house,  and  of  which  he  partook,  reminding  him  more  of  a  mar- 
riage occasion.    His  host  kindly  sent  him  to  Dr.  Troost's  with  a  negro  guide. 
Mr.  Durand  was  kindly  received  by  the  Doctor,  who,  however,  did  not  need 
"his  services,  as  the  rough  processes  of  his  copperas  manufacture  were  chiefly 
conducted  by  negroes,  but  invited  him  to  remain  and  keep  him  company  as  his 
guest,  being  much  in  need  of  social  intercourse  in  his  isolated  home.  He  found 
Dr.  Troost  a  learned  chemist,  mineralogist,  and  geologist,  with  a  general 
acquaintance  with  the  sciences,  and  when  urged,  accepted  the  hospitable  invi* 
tation  to  remain  until  the  end  of  winter. 
About  this  time  he  received  proposals  from  Mr.  Ducatel  to  take  charge  of 
the  pharmaceutical  part  of  his  business,  and  on  the  5th  of  April,  1817,  he 
■entered  on  the  duties  of  his  new  position.  His  professional  knowledge  was 
appreciated,  business  flourished,  his  employer  was  well  satisfied,  and  extended 
toward  his  new  clerk  many  acts  of  kindness  as  well  as  his  love  and  affection. 
Mr.  Durand  often  spoke  of  the  social  advantages  he  received  whilst  resident 
with  Mr.  Ducatel,  among  which  was  meeting  with  eminent  Frenchmen  in  exile, 
It  was  during  his  stay  in  Baltimore  that  he  began  to  study  American  botany 
and  to  form  the  nucleus  of  the  great  herbarium  which  he  afterwards  acquired* 
On  the  20th  of  November,  1820,  he  married  the  daughter  of  his  friend  and 
employer,  Miss  Polymnia  Rose  Ducatel,  who  died  on  the  18th  of  February. 
1822,  leaving  an  infant  daughter,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  14  years. 
In  May,  1823,  E.  Ducatel  retired  from  business,  leaving  his  establishment  to 
his  son  Jules  Ducatel  (afterwards  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  University  of 
Maryland),  and  his  son-in-law,  E.  Durand,  who  entered  copartnership  as  E. 
Ducatel  &  Sons,  which  continued  only  a  year,  Durand  retiring,  with  the  view  of 
establishing  himself  in  Philadelphia.  He  also  determined  to  visit  France,  to 
procure  his  materiel^  and  in  July,  1824,  he  left  New  York  for  Havre  in  the  ship 
"  Sylvie  de  Grace,"  arriving  on  the  14th  of  August.  His  time  was  employed 
in  selecting  stock,  apparatus  and  bottles  (which  were  duly  labelled  for  use 
and  of  the  heavy  French  pattern),  together  with  everything  needful  for  a  first- 
class  French  "  officine,"  and  returned  in  the  same  vessel  to  New  York  on  April 
22d,  1825. 
The  house  then  existing  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Sixth  and  Chestnut 
streets,  where  the  "Ledger"  office  now  stands,  was  occupied  by  Alderman 
