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entertaining friends, keeping np a large and punctual correspondence, and yet, 

 always ready, and in time, as if he had the least occupation of any man in the 

 city ? Who can wonder if, with the loss of such a man, it should seem as if a 

 dozen hands had ceased. Not less influential in the accomplishment of good is 

 earnestness of purpose. There are some persons endowed with a considerable 

 amount of activity, but so volatile, that they are constantly passing from one 

 thing to another, and the power which, persistently directed, would be irresistible, 

 is diffused and lost. Such was not the one who occupied the now ' vacant chair.' 

 If he had immense energy, he had also as much of earnestness. He seemed to 

 appreciate the maxim, 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.' 

 You who were better acquainted with his local work than a stranger can be, will 

 know whether this estimate is a true one. Whether he would ever think of such 

 a thing as a failure. How so much that he undertook succeeded with him by dint 

 of perseverance, determination, and earnestness of purpose. Whether in hunting 

 up the mistletoe, or tracing a Roman camp, his watchword was always "Forward." 

 His motto was that of the banner with the strange device "Excelsior." And we 

 may say of him, as was said of the Alpine youth : — 



"There, in the twilight cold and gray. 

 Lifeless but beautiful he lay, 

 And from the sky, serene and far, 

 A voice fell, like a falling star, 



Excelsior ! 



To many of us he was endeared by personal qualities which belonged to his private 



rather than to his public life, and hence should only be alluded to in passing. 



Such, for instance, was his geniality of disposition, his vivacity and cheerfulness, 



his straightforward integrity, the stability of his friendship, his invariable 



equanimity, and all the virtues which go to make up a good husband, father, 



and friend. 



"For by the hearth the children sit 

 Cold in that atmosphere of Death ; 

 And scarce endure to draw the breath, 

 Or like to noiseless phantoms flit. 



" But open converse is there none. 

 So much the vital spirits sink, 

 To see the vacant chair, and think 

 How good, how kind ! and he is gone. 



And now let us pass to some of the members which this life has left behind. 

 It is in the contemplation of the " footprints " which are left in the sands that 

 we gather consolation for our losses, and accumulate strength to keep on our own 

 journey. The life is not lost which leaves enough behind to keep its memory green. 

 "It will be rather appropriate to allude hereto the volume of the Club 

 Transactions for 1S67, wherein is printed a paper by Mrs. Key on Agaricus 

 Georgii, followed by some observations by Dr. Bull, which resulted in a vote of 

 six pounds for three plates of edible fungi. This seems to have been about the 

 commencement of the study of fungi, and their patronage by the Woolhope 

 Club. In the following year an announcement, of which a fac-simile is 

 given on next page, was printed and circulated, that on Friday, the 'Jth of 



