LINNEAN SOCIETY.—GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 313 
their pecuniary aid to all the societies in which they 
feel an interest. Here, also, the naturalist will be 
gratified by contemplating the entire library, mu- 
seum, and herbarium of the celebrated man from 
whom the society takes its name. ‘These collections, 
as it is well known, were purchased from the widow 
of Linné by Sir James Smith, during whose long and 
honourable career they were prodigiously augmented. 
The professional engagements of Sir James were not 
sufficiently lucrative to allow of his making a bequest 
of these treasures to that society he founded, and by 
which he was so much honoured and beloved. But 
the associated patriotism and disinterested liberality 
of the members accomplished that which it was not in 
the power of a single individual todo. Negotiations 
were opened with the trustees, and the purchase of 
the whole was at length effected. If there is any 
thing to be regretted in the construction of the 
Linnean Society, it is the exclusion of oral discus- 
sions, the introduction of which, at no distant period, 
we hope will be effected. 
(220.) The Geological Society is unquestion- 
ably the most active, and the most popular, even 
among scientific men, of all those which come under 
our notice. There is a vigour, an efficiency, and 
a liberality in all its proceedings which has called 
forth universal admiration ; while the rapidity with 
which it has risen to its present eminence is the 
most convincing proof of the talents possessed by 
its leading members, and of the impartial manner in 
which its affairs are conducted. Of the objects 
pursued by this society, the only one which gives it 
a place in this list relates to the elucidation of fossil 
