go PROCEEBINGS OF THE 



tion, in spite of a very determined foreign competition for their 

 possession. 



Nor can I, in connection with the British Museum, omit to 

 mention the interesting ceremony of last Tuesday, when the 

 admirable statue of Darwin by Boehm was unveiled by Prof. 

 Huxley, and accepted on behalf of tlie Trustees l)y the Prince of 

 Wales. It is placed, most afipropriately, in the G-reat Hall. 



By the kind permission of tlie Council I had the pleasure of 

 receiving the Fellows and other friends in these rooms in June 

 last year, and I think those who were present wnll join with me 

 in thanking the gentlemen to w^hom we were indebted for the 

 interesting objects then exhibited. 



It now, Grentlemeu, only remains for me to express my gratitude 

 to you for your support during the past year. To the Council, 

 and particularly to the Officers, I would oiFer my very special 

 thanks. No one can be more conscious of my shortcomings, 

 especially in comparison with the services rendered to the Society 

 by the eminent men who have preceded me in this chair ; at the 

 same time (and though, of course, the result is due to other 

 causes) it is a great satisfaction to feel that, whether w'e consider 

 the work done, the number of our Members, the state of our 

 Library, or the condition of our Funds, we may fairly congratu- 

 late ourselves that the Society is in a vigorous condition, and 

 I hope has still in the future a long career of usefulness and 

 prosperity. 



Obituaries. 



George Bentham was born at Stoke, a village near Plymouth, 

 on September 22nd, 1800, the Coronation-day of Greorge III., 

 so that he was accustomed to say that when he was a boy a royal 

 salute used to be fired on his birthday. He was the second son 

 of Greneral (afterwards Sir Samuel) Beutham, his mother being 

 the eldest daughter of Dr. Greorge Fordycc, F.R.S In 1805 

 Greneral Bentham was sent by the English Grovernuient to St. 

 Petersburg, w^here, and in Sweden, the family resided until 1807 ; 

 here George acquired his knowledge of the Eussian and Scan- 

 dinavian languages. 



War breaking out in 1807 between Eussia and England, 

 General Bentham was recalled, and on liis return the family 

 settled at Hampstead ; the education of the younger members 

 being continued under private tutors, the subject of our notice 

 never attended a school of any kiiul. On the peace which fol- 

 lowed the banishment of Napoleon Bonaparte to Elba, the 

 Benthams removed to France, and took up their residence first 

 at Tours, then at Saumur and Paris, tiieir residence there being 

 during the excited times of the Hundred Days. After this the 



