263 



a fact to which Prof. William B. Rogers has recently called my 

 attention, and which may be verified on some well-known varie- 

 ties, it becomes apparent that this compound can hardly be 

 classed as a simple mineral, and we approach nearer the truth 

 when we consider it an aggregate of several distinct minerals 

 constituting a rock. 



The Committee appointed to prepare a series of resolu- 

 tions, expressive of their appreciation of the valuable 

 bequest to the library, by the late James Brown, report- 

 ed the following preamble and resolutions, which were 

 adopted : — 



We are called upon to deplore the loss of one of our highly 

 valued members, a Patron of this Society, the late James Brown, 

 Esq., who died at his residence in West Cambridge, on Satur- 

 day, March 10, 1855, at the age of 55 years. 



Mr. Brown was born in Acton, in this State, on the 19th of 

 May, in the year 1800, and lived, while a young man, in Cam- 

 bridge. He was then poor, but was always respected for the 

 excellence of his character, and for his industiy and fidelity to 

 his employers. By his own industry, intelligent labor, and busi- 

 ness habits, he gradually acquired so large an amount of prop- 

 erty as to be able to make generous presents to the library of 

 the College, and to aid in the advancement of many literary 

 and humane undertakings. 



He entered into the business of publishing books, first in Cam- 

 bridge, and subsequently in Boston, where he became an active 

 partner in the firm of Little & Brown, a publishing house well 

 known, not only in this community, but all over the Union, for 

 its sterling publications and great fidelity. 



Mr. Brown soon took a lively interest in the Boston Society of 

 Natural History, and freely contributed to its funds and to its 

 library ; and by his active endeavors induced others also to favor 

 the Society with liberal donations. 



The rank he took in becoming a Patron of the Society, he 

 always ably sustained during his lifetime, and bore it in remem- 

 brance in his last hours, as is proved by the valuable bequest 



