XX PEOCEEDIJfGS OF THE 



ties, however valuable and interesting they may be. It is to this 

 point that I have been principally endeavouring to lead ; and to 

 suggest (for I am not competent to do more) whether the Linnean 

 Society may not, both in this and the sister kingdom, by offering a 

 place in our publications for a selection from those contributions, 

 be the means of preserving much valuable matter from being lost, 

 and extending the patronage and prestige of the Society to such 

 provincial institutions as may be desirous to avail themselves of this 

 advantage. Tou will perceive that this is merely carrying further, 

 and founding upon a still broader basis, the views which I took the 

 liberty to enunciate upon a former occasion. Should the sug- 

 gestions which I have now ventm-ed to make, ever appear to the 

 Society to be in any degree susceptible of being efficiently carried 

 out, without infringing upon our more normal and important 

 duties, I believe that any increase of our expenses which may thus 

 be entailed upon us would be amply supplied by an accession of 

 members from Ireland ; and I cannot but believe that the closer 

 union which Avovdd thus be created between the naturalists of the 

 two components of the united kingdom would, inter alia, tend to 

 that increasing good-will and mutual understanding which every 

 lover of his country, on both sides of the Channel, must be 

 rejoiced to recognize as already progressing, and earnestly endea- 

 vour to promote. 



OBITUAET NOTICES. 



The Secretary then read the following notices of deceased Fel- 

 lows, Foreign Members, and Associates : — 



ITr. diaries Barter entered the service of the Eoyal Botanic 

 Gardens, Kew, in April 1849, having been previously employed 

 under his father, who was gardener at Cadlands, near Southamp- 

 ton. During the two years that he remained at Kew, Mr. Barter 

 seems to have been most industrious in acquiring a knowledge of 

 botany, and, as one proof of his proficiency, Mr. Smith, the Cura- 

 tor, states that a copy of Hooker's ' British Flora ' having been 

 offered by him as a reward for the best and most correctly named 

 collection of native specimens, and four of the young men con- 

 nected with the Gardens having competed for it, the prize was 

 gained by Mr. Barter. In April 1851, he exchanged the service 

 of the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, for that of the Eoyal Botanic Society, 



