— 28 — 



cinating, lhan to learn ofthe personal contact of many bearersof 

 sciences belonging to différent centuries? What could be more 

 elevating, lhan glimpses on t lie individual and mulual relations of 

 great masters in knowledge througfa several centuries from ihe 

 standpoints ofsuch rulersof montai efforts as thèse two botanic 

 corypbseans? Whal consolation must il hâve been to Alphonse de 

 Candolle, wben passingaway, to see in hopeful brightness thèse 

 touches in au elder science-world renewed in a younger one by 

 Casimir de Gandolle at the verge ofa century, through which his 

 two nearest ancestors wereso luminous? The vivid interest, dis- 

 played l>y i lie Genevese phytologic sage in ail thaï concerned his 

 favourite science, remained undiminished lo the last. Even wilbin 

 about two weeks ol his death lie pondered over progressive détails 

 l'or the greatest of his works, as shown by a last communication 

 lo the author of thèse Unes, who with pride can look on a séries of 

 letters, received from Alphonse de Candolle during more lhan tint e 

 décades of lime, ami who is reminded of similar partiog Unes from 

 Lindley, Bentham and others of the foremost in phytology. As an 

 mstanee ol' the keen circumspectness ami temler solieitude, with 

 which Alphonse de Candolle watched over ihescientific welfareof 

 others, it may hère be stated, that when on ol the Melbourne il us- 

 trated works on plants approached ils dose, he entirely on his owu 

 impulse ami sole accord, whhout the slightet knowledge ol' the 

 author and utterly unsought, addressed himselfto the authorilies 

 hère in ternis of appréciation, which by the weight of his master- 

 ship could not l'ail to exercise a bénéficiai influence for future 

 efforts on tins side of the world. That such a nian earns the admi- 

 ration of ail the workers in lus or in kindred fields, was a trium- 

 phant séquence. Bornage was paid him from ail parts ofthe world. 

 English science honoured him with the loreign fellowsbip 

 of the Royal Society. An extensive Australian genus of plants of 

 délicate loveliness bears lus name. Few mortals can ever rank with 

 the De Candolles on their own paths of science, indeed very few! 

 Their clorions acquisitions were for rural wealth, l'or industrial 

 gain, for higher éducation, for joyful récréation, for elevating con- 



