77 



a sliort period, and a powerful constitution, whicli enabled him for 

 lon<r periods almost to dispense with exercise. 



" There were other public bodies in which he took an interest 

 besides those which have been mentioned ; but they may be brief- 

 ly passed over. For a number of years he was an active mem- 

 ber of the Highland Society, and commonly Chaii-man of their 

 Committee on Agricultural Implements and Machinery. He assist- 

 ed in the formation of the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science at the meeting at York in 1831 ; and he acted most ener- 

 getically in the capacity of Local Secretary to that body upon occa- 

 sion of its visit to Edinburgh in 1834, when he also entertained M. 

 Arago at his house. Nor did he think the regulation of the affairs 

 of the City Police below his notice ; and, like the distinguished 

 scientific foreigner and friend just mentioned (whom I have heard 

 dilate as warmly upon the achievement of paving a boulevard a,s upon 

 the discovery of a comet), he sat for some years amongst the Police 

 Commissioners, and suggested some improvements, generally felt to 

 be such, though the originator is not so commonly known. He would 

 undoubtedly have introduced many others ; but his coadjutors pro- 

 bably thought more of savhig the public money, he of the public con- 

 venience.* * 



" Before closing this brief notice I have pleasure in adverting to a 

 trait of our late Secretary's character, which did him honour. I 

 mean his sincere desire to render himself useful to those with whom, 

 as officially representing the Society, or from congeniality of pur- 

 suit, he was brought in contact. It may be, that all whom he thus 

 favoured were not equally deserving, but that, as a general rule, he 

 endeavoured to attract notice to merit cannot be doubted. The 

 slightest recommendation, or none besides ingenuity, were suflacient 

 fo claim an interest in him, and during many years his house and his 

 tabid were hospitably open to those who asked his advice or required 

 his encouragement. I have a pleasure in I'ocording my personal ob- 

 ligations to him at a time when I had scarcely a single scientific 

 friend ; when, and for long after, I received from him such substan- 

 tial proofs of kindness, as it is impossible that I should ever forget. 



• Tlie method of naming the streets in a conspicuous and durable 

 manner was a favourite topic with him. and it is a duty of the police 

 certainly too much neglected, more c peciallv in London. The 

 substitution of our present cast-iron lamp-post, with the name of the 

 street cast on each, replacing the expensive, ugly, and ineffective con- 

 struction of the old ones, was, I believe, due to Sir John. 



