45 



we experienced on both those occasions. In the case of Bessel, his 

 was the delight of a son who had found a father. He hung on his 

 words and watched his looks with a mingled feeling of affection and 

 pride. That he proGted by studying the writings of these great 

 men, his own researches sufficiently testify. His path lay not in the 

 complex analytical investigations of the French school ; but what he 

 professed, he was profoundly acquainted with. His natural modesty 

 appears nowhere to greater advantage than in his sternly disclaim- 

 ing all pretensions to knowledge with which he was only partially 

 acquauited. In social life he was kind and affectionate ; ever ready 

 to assist his friends, without regard to his personal comfort. His 

 naturally reserved manner unfitted him to occupy that position in 

 general society which his extensive information and accurate memory 

 amply qualified him for. He felt, too, what his position, as Her 

 Majesty's Astronomer for Scotland, demanded, and having no facility 

 of adapting himself to the peculiarities of others, he was content to 

 limit his circle to a few chosen friends. Amongst these he never 

 forgot his early patrons, towai'ds whom he manifested to the last the 

 same deep feelings of gratitude. By them, and by all who knew 

 him intimately, he was much beloved, and as much respected. 

 They will agree with me in saying that we have lost a valuable 

 friend, — a man liberal and high-minded, — conscientious to a degree, 

 — ready with heart and hand to assist, when assistance was called 

 for, — with a judgment so sound, and experience so improved, as to 

 render him a safe adviser, and an invaluable coadjutor. May the 

 reputation he has left, and the kind remembrances which his friends 

 cherish of him, stimulate us to follow his example, and imitate his 

 virtues. 



3. On the Chemical Relations of Creosote. By William 

 Gregory, M.D., Professor of Chemistry. 



The author stated, that, being struck with the singular resem- 

 blance between the properties of creosote and those of carbolic acid, 

 as described in all chemical works, he had tried the action of a 

 mixture of chlorate of potash and hydrochloric acid on creosote, and 

 had thus obtained a very large proportion of chloranile, the com- 

 pound yielded by carbolic acid, when treated in the same way. He 

 had also obtained, by the action of nitric acid on creosote, evidence 

 of the production of nitropicric acid, which is also obtained from 

 carbolic acid. 



VOL. II. P 



