280 IVernerlan Natural HUtory Society, 



seemed as if in publication he was performing, not what was 

 a duty to himself, but, what was a duty to the public. 



'* His life was devoted to science, and bis social hoprs 

 were passed among a few of his friends, principally mem- 

 bers of the Royal Society : he was reserved to strangers, 

 but where he was familiar, his conversation was lively, and 

 full of varied information: upon all subjects of science he 

 w-as luminous and profound, and in discussion wonderfully 

 acute :-^ 



-• -^-*^ Even to the very last week of his life, when he was 

 nearly 79> he retamed his activity of body and all his energy 

 and sagacity of intellect; He was warndy interested in all 

 new subjects of science ; and several times, in the course of 

 the last year, witnessed or assisted in some experiments that 

 were carried on in this theatre, or in the laboratory below. 



^^ Smce the death of Newton, (if I might be permitted 

 to give an opinion,) England has sustained no scientific loss" 

 so great as that of Cavendish ; but this loss is less to be re- 

 gretted, since, like his great predecessor, he died full of years 

 and of glory : his name will be an object of more venera- 

 tion in future ages than in the present moment :— though 

 it was unknown in the busy scenes of life, or in the popu- 

 lar discussions of the day, it will remain illustrious in the- 

 annals of -science, which are as unperishable as that natur»^ 

 to which they belong : and it will be an immortal honour 

 to his house, to his age, and to his country." 



WERNERIAN NATI;RAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



At the meeting on 3d February, the Rev, Dr. Macknight 

 laid before tlie socitity a sketch of the mineralogy of the 

 highlands of Scotland, from the Pass of Leny to Balahelish. 

 Tbe general rock in this tract is mica. slate, with its usual 

 subordinate beds, such as, of granular limestone, horn- 

 blende slate, &c. It contains also, in some districts, beds 

 and veins of leadglance, and indications of ironglance. Be- 

 yond Zyndrum, the mica slate approaches to gneiss, till 

 we pass Inverouran, where sienite appears, hi the neigh- 

 bourhood of King's House, newer granite, feldspar, por- 

 phyry and hornstoue are found ; and the adjacent country, 

 as might be expected from the decomposition of these rocks, 

 presents, for many miles, an unusual aspect cf bleakness 

 a,nd sterility. Glencoe, which is singularly interesting, 

 both in a picturesque and in a mineralogical point of view, 

 consists of hornstoue and compact feldspar, in beds subor- 

 dinate to the primitive rocks, and capped with porphyry. 

 At the bottom of Glencoe, mica slate again appears, and is 

 ^ covered 



