XX PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



Avisdom, knowledge of business, and tact wliicli have always distin- 

 giiislied him in the Council, and for which I now beg leave to ex- 

 press most strongly my own obligations and those under which 

 the Society at large lies to him. I hope Mr. Bentham will accept 

 the assurance of my most earnest wishes that he may long continue 

 to occupy a chair which he is so well able to fill ; and that, while 

 the Society enjoys the benefit and prestige of his Presidency, he 

 may ever receive the same confidence, the same kind consideration, 

 the same affectionate attachment, as that with which for the last 

 eight years I have been honoured. 



OBITUAEY NOTICES. 



The Secretary then read the following notices of deceased 

 Memhers. 



George Earl of Aberdeen, whose name for the last twenty-five 

 years has stood at the head of the list of Fellows, died on the 

 14th December, 1860. 



The well-known public character and career of this distinguished 

 patron of literature and art, and the absence in him of any pre- 

 tension to scientific fame, render it unnecessary here to do more 

 than express the deep sense which this Society, in common with 

 the whole British Empire, cannot fail to entertain of the great public 

 loss sustained by the decease of one so long eminent as a states- 

 man and so distinguished by the excellence of his public and private 

 character. 



Bohert John AsTiton, Esq., was by profession a solicitor, residing 

 at Pelham Crescent, Brompton, and having chambers in New Inn. 

 He was the eldest son of Eobert Ashton, Esq., of Brompton, by 

 Mary, daughter of J. A. Schwenk, Esq., and was born at Brompton 

 in 1812. Educated by the late Hev. Dr. Lewis at Twickenham, 

 he was admitted a solicitor in 1836. 



As he was possessed of good independent property, he foUowed 

 his profession more as a means of occupation than of profit, and 

 in the exercise of his avocation the strong tendency of his 

 mind to scientific and antiquarian piirsuits led him to cultivate 

 law as a science, and to investigate the intricacies of titles rather 

 than to engage in active practice, 



IVIr. Ashton was a good classical scholar and well versed in the 

 Grerman and French languages ; but the natural bias of his mind 

 was better exhibited in scientific and antiquarian studies, and espe- 

 cially in that of natural history. Thus chemistry, botany, 



