240 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS. [May 23, 1859. 



*' Robert Brown was a truly great and good man. Love of truth 

 above all things, calmness, sincerity, modesty, tender sensibility, 

 and goodness of heart — these features of his character stood con- 

 stantly under the government of a penetrating and massive judg- 

 ment. So energetically did these characteristics regulate his 

 activity as inquirer and author, that we may affirm that every 

 act of his investigations, and every assertion in his writings, bear 

 the stamp of this perfectly-balanced character. 



"It is indeed often the case that an extraordinary intellect rests, 

 like a column, upon a slender moral foundation ; but Robert Brown's 

 rose, like a pyramid, from a broad and strong base. In recognition 

 of this worthy combination, all naturalists offered admiration to his 

 intellect — to his character, reverence and love." 



" It has been thought strange," continues Dr. von Martins, " that 

 a man of such extraordinary scientific importance, to whom the 

 homage of the world was offered, played no prominent part in 

 public life, or in the brilliant society of London." 



On this last point I may, however, say that, although my deceased 

 friend communicated much pleasure to others when surrounded by 

 a small social circle, he had little relish for fashionable or political 

 society. Still it is deeply to be regretted, that those who occupy 

 lofty stations in our land should not have better appreciated so re- 

 markable a countryman. Indeed, I cannot forget the remark made 

 to me by Humboldt when, in 1842, in accompanying the King 

 of Prussia to England, he honoured me by meeting the " Princeps 

 Botanicorum" at my own house, "that it was painful to him to find 

 that a man of such true eminence as Robert Brown was almost 

 ignored among the higher circles of English society." 



I may state that, in the latter years of his life, this great bo- 

 tanist devoted much of his time to the minute examination of 

 those fossil plants, the structure of which is admirably exhibited 

 by having been preserved in crystalline matrices, siliceous or calca- 

 reous ; and he spared no expense in having these specimens so cut 

 and polished as to facilitate the endeavours of his successors to 

 follow up a line of research in which he modestly styled himself 

 only a pioneer.* For, although he had established some of the 



* His highly instructive collection of fossil plants has been bequeathed by Mr. Brown 

 to the British Museum, on the condition of the Trustees allowing it to form part of the 

 Botanical Exhibition, under the charge of the Keeper of Botany. This provision has been 

 complied with ; and the collection, as well as the inimitable portfolios of the drawings of 

 Ferdinand R. Bauer, also left to the Trustees, are now under the charge of Robert Brown's 

 valued friend, Mr. John Bennett, his successor as Keeper of Botany in the British Museum. 



