i 3 G Geological Society. 



as my own, when I express a cordial hope that these two naturalists, 

 so fitted by their endowments and character to advance the progress 

 of science, may long go on achieving new triumphs ; and may have 

 the satisfaction — higher even than that which they derive from the 

 honours we so willingly bestow — of finding the great principles which 

 it is given to them to wield, becoming every year more powerful in- 

 struments of discovery; and of seeing, as they pursue their researches, 

 light thrown upon the darkest and widest of the vast problems which 

 they have proposed to themselves. 



I will now say a few words concerning a few of the most con- 

 spicuous of the names which have been obliterated by death from 

 our list during the year. 



Among the members of our body, whom we have lost there is 

 one whom we cannot but mention with more than common emo- 

 tion, endeared as he was to many of us by private friendship, and 

 admired by all for his talents, his knowledge, and his services. Dr. 

 Edward Turner, Professor of Chemistry in the London University, 

 filled the office of our Secretary for five years, and subsequently 

 was two years Vice-President, which situation he held at the time of 

 his death in February 1837. Several of you may remember, Gentle- 

 men, that our last anniversary meeting was in some measure clouded 

 by the recollection of this then recent calamity ; and that many of 

 the Fellows of the Society, on that occasion, expressed their inten- 

 tion of testifying their respect and regard for the departed by 

 attending his funeral. Of Dr. Turner's private virtues, and of the 

 charm of his society, I must not here speak. I will not allow myself 

 to dwell upon the admirable clearness and precision of his thoughts 

 as expressed in conversation, — upon the delightful openness and 

 candour of his character, — upon the kind and gentle cheerfulness of 

 his demeanour, the genuine fruit of a deep habitual religious feeling. 

 But I may take this occasion to say, that in him chemistry suffered 

 a loss, not only great, — for that all would at once say, — but much 

 greater and more difficult to repair than may at first sight appear. 

 Dr. Turner entertained a conviction (I am stating the result of many 

 interesting conversations which I have held with him) that the time 

 was come when the chemist could not hope to follow out the fortunes 

 of his science, and to read in her discoveries their full meaning, with- 

 out being acquainted with the language, and master of the resources 

 of mathematics. Acting upon this enlightened view, he did not 

 hesitate to encounter the great labour and exertion of a course of 

 study in the higher mathematics; and he succeeded entirely in making 

 himself a good mathematician. And he was one 'of the very few who, in 

 our country, labour at a branch of chemistry which is of the highest 

 importance to us as geologists ; but which, — we may suppose from its 

 laborious and intricate nature, — appears to repel our most active che- 

 mists ; I mean that portion of chemistry which is connected with 

 mineralogy. 



Yet this department is, in truth, more inviting than it may at first 

 appear. No doubt in it clear mathematical conceptions are necessary, 

 and perhaps some little training in mathematics ; but there is good 



