the late Mr. Henry. 217 
oners for victualling his Majesty’s Ships. The 
chief obstacle to its adoption in the Navy was 
an apprehension, probably well grounded, that 
persons would scarcely be found on ship-board, 
possessing sufficient skill for conducting the 
process successfully. Since that’ time, the 
preservation of water at sea has been accom- 
plished by’ the ‘simple expedient: of 'stowing 
it in vessels constructed or lined with some 
substance, whichis not capable’ of impreg- - 
nating water with any putrescible ingredient ; 
for good | spring water’, it is well known, con 
tains essentially mats éi:3? eeey ‘it to 
putrefaction. 
Phe philosophical pursuits of Mr. aidan, 
not'long after this period, received. ‘an addi- 
tional ‘stimulus by the establishment of the 
Society to which these pages are addressed, 
and by his anxious desire to fulfil his duties as 
a member of it. To him, on its being first 
regularly organized in the winter of 1781, 
was confided the office of one of the Secreta- 
ries. Ata subsequent period, he was advan- 
ced to the station of Vice-President, and in 
the year 1807, on the vacancy occasioned’ by 
the death of the Rev. George Walker, F.R:S,, 
he received from the Society,’ ‘and’ retained 
during the rest of his life, the cae dignity 
which it has to bestow. 
. VOL, IIL. Ee 
