1S82.] ^^^ 



Dr. LeConte said : 



In rising to announce the death of Charles Robert Darwin, which oc- 

 curred on the nineteenth day of April, last, in the seventy-fourth year of 

 his age, I have no intention to give a biographical sketch of his life, or his 

 contributions to science. This labor of love will be performed fully by 

 some of his compatriots, who have had the benefit of the sweet and in- 

 structive personal intercourse with him which has failed to be part of our 

 earthly enjoyment. But what I do wish to manifest, as far as the feeble 

 power of my language will permit, is the deep grief which we feel, at the 

 loss of one, who has by his work and his writings, become a dear com- 

 panion, and a guide in our scientific thought. 



For, to no man more than to Darwin, does the present age owe as much, 

 for the gradual reception of the modern method of close observation over 

 the scholastic or a priori formuhe, which, up to a brief period, affected all 

 biolf)gical investigations. To him, above all men, we owe the recurrence 

 to the old Arj^an doctrine of evolution (though in those ancient times pro- 

 mulgated under the guise of inspiration) as preferable, by reasonable 

 demonstration, to the Shemitic views, which have prevailed to within a few 

 years, and are still acceptable to a large number of well-minded but unthink- 

 ing men. The doctrine of evolution, in its elementary form, means noth- 

 ing more than that everything that exists has been derived from something 

 that pre-existed ; that the former is related to the latter as effect is to cause. 

 And it is most pleasing evidence of the acceptability of this doctrine, that 

 it is now heard from many pulpits in the land, as a strong illustration of 

 the instructions which are thence given. 



Therefore, while lamenting the death of Darwin, at a ripe old age, and 

 losing the benefit of his vast store of learning, which could not much 

 longer remain with us, we are grateful that we have lived in a generation 

 in which he was a conspicuous example of the humble and holj^ men of 

 heart, which other scientific men should endeavor — albeit, with much less 

 capacity — to imitate. 



And, finally, we oflFer to the bereaved family our most heartfelt sympa- 

 thy in their affliction, and our trust that the well-chosen ancestral alliances 

 will enable the descendants to worthily succeed in attaining the honor 

 and usefulness which characterized our deceased colleague. 



The death of John Lenthall, U. S. N., April 11, at Philadel- 

 phia, in his 75th year, was announced. 



The death of Eobert Christison, M. D., of Edinburgh, was 

 reported as having taken place in 1880. 



Mr. Chase communicated Photodjnamic notes No. Y. 



Mr. H. C. Lewis described his observations of the auroi'u of 

 April 19 and 20, proving its connection with the earth bv the 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XX. 111. 2d, PRINTED MAY 22, 1882. 



