COUNCIL FOR 1859. 19 



age, and served for many years with great distinction. During 

 the latter part of his military career he paid much attention to 

 Astronomy, which he continued to study with much zeal and 

 success to the close of his long life ; his position as Governor 

 of New South Wales enabled him to found the Observatory at 

 Paramatta, from which most important results have been 

 obtained ; and on his return to this country, he established a 

 magnificent Observatory at Makerstoun, near Kelso, where 

 astronomical and magnetical observations of the highest value 

 have been carried on for many years. Our Library contains 

 several volumes of Observations made at this Observatory, and 

 presented by Sir Thomas Brisbane. 



The list of Foreign Honorary Members of this, as of many 

 other Societies, has, during the year 1859, sustained the loss of 

 one of its brightest ornaments, in the name of Alexander Von 

 Humboldt. The Council feel it to be unnecessary to pronounce 

 any eulogium upon this illustrious philosopher, whose labours, 

 extending to the very close of a life of 90 years, have been 

 subservient to the progress of almost every branch of science. 

 His wonderful work, entitled " Cosmos," contains a physical 

 description of the Universe, which must astonish every one by 

 the extraordinary grasp of mind which it exhibits. 



Five members of Council, Mr. Davies, Mr. Ford, Rev. Henry 

 Short, Mr. Edward Swaine, and Mr. George Wilson, retire by 

 rotation, and as Mr. Noble was also a member of Council pre- 

 vious to his undertaking the duties of Secretary, there are in 

 all six new members to be elected. The Council propose the 

 Earl of Zetland as a Vice-President in the room of the late 

 Lord Londesborough. 



