#bitttavjj. 



Our lamented President, the late W. Sanders, P.R.S., F.G.S., 

 who died Nov. 12th, 1875, was born January 12th, 1799. 



From early years he took to the study of mineralogy and geology, 

 and for about 50 years he superintended these departments in the 

 Bristol Institution. His name appears already in the first few 

 years after its foundation, (1824, &c.,) as a donor to the collections, 

 and 1827 he took the Hon. Secretaryship of the Museum sub- 

 committee, and continued as such to direct the Museum affairs till 

 1856 ; when there being no longer any Curator, the title was 

 made for him of Hon. Curator. On the amalgamation of the 

 " Institution of the advancement of Literature, Science and Art," 

 with the "Bristol Library Society" in 1871, he became a Vice- 

 President of the joint Society, as well as Hon. Curator of the 

 Museum, and continued to give the greater part of his time to 

 working for it and watching over its interests. 



In 1845 we find him occupying the place of joint Secretary of 

 the ''Philosophical Society" which used to meet at the Institution 

 for their evening Meetings, and this office he kept till the Society 

 gradually died out, and its place was taken by the Naturalists' 

 Society, the field-meetings of which were more in harmony with 

 the active spirit of the age. Of the latter Society he was one of 

 the originators, and has been annually re-elected President from the 

 commencement. 



