40 president's address. 



difficulties which he surmounted by admirable tact and never- 

 failing energy, were impressed with the conviction of his great 

 merits ; and I may here observe, that the qualities of his mind 

 were such as to deserve not only close attention, but careful 

 imitation. His train of study, and habits of observation, appear 

 to have been marshalled into order by military studies in early 

 life. Thence he became rigidly careful as to the objects to be 

 selected for pursuit ; but, having once selected, he seemed inca- 

 pable of failure. Commencing with small beginnings, and most 

 humble aims, he gained the acquiescence which would have been 

 denied to broader requests ; and having once gained a footing, 

 his clear and accurate mind so distinctly demonstrated the advan- 

 tage of further progress, that refusal was impossible ; and thus, 

 step by step, year after year, he went on, until he accomplished 

 results which must yield imperishable honour to his memory. 

 To him the nation owes the splendid mansion, erected at a cost 

 of £30,000, in which, for the first time, the Government of this 

 country has supplied purely technical and scientific instruction. 

 He collected, first, a few specimens of rocks and minerals, in 

 a room or two, in Craig's Court. These have been augmented 

 into a National Museum ! He directed, with great skill and 

 perseverance, the Geological survey of the kingdom, and estab- 

 lished a sort of Mining University, in which he gathered together 

 some of the ablest and most animated friends and students of 

 Geological and Mining Science. I have, in a former part of this 

 address, alluded to his labours in the Building Stone Commission; 

 and I have the satisfaction to add, that the preservation of Mining 

 records was, a short time previous to his death, placed on a per- 

 manent and satisfactory footing. His literary works are too well 

 known to require comment ; but depending, as these Northern 

 Counties do, on mineral treasures, for much of their past, present, 

 and prospective prosperity, I feel justified in commending, with 

 all the earnestness I can, the valuable labours of Sir Henry de la 

 Beche. I do so the more willingly, as any reference to them is 

 associated with a genuine regard which I ever entertained for his 

 friendship. It enabled me, for many years, to be a witness of 

 his exertions, and at times, in some humble degree, a fellow- 



