XXXU PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



Entomological Societies, of Avhich latter he was several times Pre- 

 sident. 



It should be recorded also that Mr. Spence at one time entered 

 the political arena, and sat in Parliament for his native town ; his 

 endeavours in his political capacity being principally directed (as 

 some, perhaps, will deem it, very mistakenly) to the promotion of 

 measures calculated to advance, as he supposed, the impossible, and 

 certainly undesirable, object of renderiugGrreat Britain independent 

 of foreign nations. On this subject he also published a pamphlet, 

 which attracted at the time no little attention. 



Of late years Mr. Spence devoted much time and energy to the 

 service of science generally, as a constant attendant, so long as his 

 health permitted him, at the councils of several societies. He was 

 consequently famiUarly known in the scientific world, and, where 

 known, his extreme amiability and kindness of disposition, and 

 his gentle urbanity of manner, rendered him universally esteemed 

 and beloved. 



Mr. Spence became a PeUow of the Linnean Society on the 

 18th of Pebruary, 1806, and died on the 6th of January, 1860, 

 most deeply lamented. 



Sir George Thomas Staunton, Bart., D.C.L., F.R.S., born at 

 Salisbury in 1781, was the son of Sir G-eorge Leonard Staunton, 

 who enjoyed a considerable reputation as a physician. In 1792 he 

 accompanied his father, who went out as Secretary to Lord Ma- 

 cartney in the first embassy to China, and on his return entered the 

 University of Cambridge, where, however, he does not appear to 

 have remained very long. In 1799 he returned to China as 

 Secretary to the British Factory at Canton, of which body he 

 afterwards became the President. Continuing to reside in China, 

 he was attached in 1816 to Lord Amherst's embassy as Eoyal 

 Commissioner ; and in this capacity his extensive knowledge of the 

 Language and manners of the Chiaese enabled him to render im- 

 portant services, and on one occasion to appease a formidable 

 quarrel between the natives and the foreigners resident at Canton. 

 In 1817 he quitted China, and, returning to his native country, in 

 the following year entered the House of Commons, where he sat 

 with brief interruptions for many years, finally retiring into private 

 life in 1852. 



Sir G-eorge Staunton's literary laboiirs were principally devoted 

 to subjects connected with China, its laws, manners and language, 

 the knowledge of which was much promoted by his translations 

 and writings. Among the latter may be enumerated ' The Penal 



