xliv THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



influence of these distressing complaints his naturally strong constitution 

 gradually gave way. He retained his faculties up to the last, and even on 

 the morning of his dissolution he continued cheerful. It became evident in 

 the early part of Thursday, January 26, from his extreme weakness, that 

 his end was near at hand. Late in the afternoon he became unconscious, 

 and in the evening about seven o'clock his spirit passed away without a 

 struggle. He was buried on Saturday in the family vault at Camperdown. 

 His funeral, according to his own directions, was of a humble and unosten- 

 tatious character ; but it was attended by many of his relatives and fi'iends, 

 as well as those who had been his coadjutors in the cause of Science. 



Possessed of great ability, and with a highly-cultivated mind, to which 

 he continued to the very last to add fresh stores, as well from the recorded 

 labours of others as from his own keen observance of Nature in all its 

 various branches, there are few men who surpassed him in general know- 

 ledge and acquirements. As a natui-alist we believe that ho ranked as high, 

 if not higher, than any other now living ; and his collection of insects, especially 

 those belonging to Australia and the other portions of the Southern hemis- 

 phere, is the finest, the most extensive, and the most valuable now 

 extant. "Wo are indebted in this colony to his keen eye and practical skill 

 in this his favomite branch of science, for numerous additions to the large 

 catalogue of insects previoxisly known, and for clearing up many doubts and 

 difiiculties respecting them, which had baffled the penetration of other 

 observers. 



"Jet it was by no means in Entomology alone that he delighted ; 

 although in that branch of natural history he stood in the very first rank. 

 His knowledge and acquirements in almost every branch of Zoology and 

 Geology, and especially of Botany, were very considerable. The mere list 

 subjoined of the works and papers wi-itten by him, imperfect as that list is, 

 will of itself show how very extensive was the range of his studies ; while 

 it may be truly said of him, what was once said of another. Nihil attigit 

 quod non tetigit, nee tetigit quod non omavit. 



He was not one of those who are anxious to reserve all their information 

 for their own use. Although of retiring habits, he was always accessible to 

 those who desired to obtain infoi-mation on those scientific subjects which 

 had been the study of his life : and he continued to the last to carry on an 

 extensive correspondence with all who were anxious to consult him. Few 

 men possessed in so eminent a degree the power of agreeable conversation. 

 From the literarj' and scientific society in which he had moved for so many 

 years, the numerous coxmtries which he had visited, and his extensive reading, 

 he had acquired a large fund of information, which it was his delight to com- 

 municate to his numerous circle of friends. It was impossible to pass a few 

 hours with him without feeling that he was a man of superior genius, and 

 that he had allowed no opportunity to pass without acquiring accurate 

 information on every subject presented to his notice, and without feeling also 

 insti'ucted by a friendly intercourse with him. 



