Geological Sac id i/^ 291 



rolled on the lists of the Society ; and among them I rejoice to ob- 

 serve the names of some persons eminently distinguished in this 

 country by their knowledge in the exact sciences ; and of others to 

 whom we shall hereafter look, not merely for general support, but 

 for active cooperation in the field. We have also added seven to 

 the number of our Foreign Members: and I need not tell the Gen- 

 tlemen present, that our body is honoured by the addition of these 

 persons to its list * : for they stand without exception in the fore- 

 most rank of those who, by a combination of great personal labour 

 and great talents, have pushed beyond their former limits those 

 branches of natural knowledge, for the advancement of which we 

 are incorporated. At the head of this number I rejoice to see the 

 name of an illustrious Personage who^ amid the distracting duties 

 attached to his exalted rank and commanding station, has found 

 time for the successful cultivation of science, which he adorns by 

 his high intellectual attainments, and urges on by the force of his 

 example. 



After placing before you these subjects of congratulation, it is 

 my painful duty to record the loss of an old Member of this So- 

 ciety, who took a deep interest in its wellbeing and progress. By 

 the death of Mr. Holme we have lost a man of rare simplicity of 

 manners, who in a life of retirement pursued science for its own 

 sake, without anj^ alloy of selfish feeling, or any view to his emolu- 

 ment or fame. He was an admirable botanist ; and after many 

 years of application had acquired no ordinary skill in some difficult 

 parts of mineral analysis. In one of the Papers in our last publi- 

 cation I have had repeated occasions of acknowledging my obliga- 

 tions to him. 



France has lately been deprived, by the death of M. Vauquelin, 

 of a man who for more than half a century devoted the efforts of 

 his powerful mind to the promotion of physical truth ; and we have 

 to lament the loss of a name which has long decorated the list of 

 our Foreign Members. A proper homage has been already paid, 

 by the President of the Royal Society, to the memory of this illus- 

 trious person; whose labours, however great the light they shed on 

 our department of natural history, were still more nearly connected 

 witli exact science. 



Several of the Papers read at our meetings, between the last 

 Anniversary and our separation for the summer, have through 

 different channels already come before the public. It would have 

 been well, that at least a part of them should have appeared in our 

 Transactions. But our funds have not always admitted of a suffi- 

 ciently rapid publication to meet the wishes of those authors es- 

 pecially who have most original matter to communicate. This is 



* His Imperial Hipliness Jolni Arcliduke of Austria; Dr. Ami Bouc ; 

 Prof. Hausinann of (nittingen; Prof. Hoffmann of I3erlin; Prof Voltz of 

 Strasboiirj,'; M. Diifrenoy, l-*rorcs3or at the Kcole des Mines, Paris; and 

 .M. D'Oinaliiis D'llalloy, Ciovoriior of the Province of Naimir in the 

 Kingdom of the Nctiicriiiiuls. 



2 r 2 a Mihjcit 



