Geological Society. 445 



of science appeared to call for them. I mention this with double 

 satisfaction, because I am convinced that this good spirit still sub- 

 sists amongst us with undiminished vigour. 



Dr. Alexander Turnbull Christie imbibed in the class-room of 

 Professor Jameson a taste for geology, which he afterwards im- 

 proved in India, as far as- opportunity allowed, under many discoura- 

 ging circumstances. On his return to Europe he applied himself 

 to the science with great earnestness; he studied the best works, 

 courted the society of their authors, familiarized himself with the 

 contents of collections, and practised in the open air the most ap- 

 proved methods of investigation. He became the pupil of M. Brong- 

 niart at Paris, and the companion of M. de Beaumont and M. von 

 Buch in the Alps. His studies were by no means confined to 

 geology ; they embraced every department of natural history. The 

 climatological and geographical distribution of plants was a subject 

 to which he paid much attention. Having provided at his own ex- 

 pense the best instruments for the purpose, he returned to India 

 with the design of instituting there a continued series of barometric, 

 hygrometric, and other experiments, as well as of exploring the 

 physical structure of that vast region, and of determining the rela- 

 tions of its rocks to those of Europe. On his way he visited Sicily, 

 and transmitted to the Society an account of some of the younger 

 deposits of that island, and the phaenomena that accompanied their 

 elevation. He wrote also a description of some bone caves near 

 Palermo, and of tidal and other zones observed on limestone along 

 the shores of Greece. These notices will be found in Jameson's 

 Journal. Dr. Christie died prematurely of a jungle fever, while 

 crossing the Nilgherry hill in November 1832. 



Mr. Lansdown Guilding, though not himself engaged in the pur- 

 suit of geology, added several valuable specimens to our collec- 

 tion, and materially assisted the progress of some other branches of 

 natural history, especially in connexion with the West Indies. 



Sir Charles Giesecke was born at Augsburg in 1761. He was 

 originally intended for the church ; after various changes of occu- 

 pation and a life of some adventure, he devoted himself in about his 

 fortieth year to mineralogy, and studied under Werner at Freyberg 

 in 1801. He subsequently travelled with mineralogical views in 

 several parts of the North of Europe ; in 1806 he entered into the 

 service of Denmark and repaired to Greenland, leaving at Copen- 

 hagen a valuable collection of books and minerals, which were de- 

 stroyed during the bombardment of that city. In Greenland he 

 formed accpjisitions of great interest in various departments of na- 

 tural history, but foreseeing the probability of their capture on the 

 passage to Europe, he with great resolution and perseverance 

 went a second time over the ground he had examined, and re- 

 mained in that desolate region till his object was accomplished. In 

 the mean time the vessel which contained his first treasures was 

 taken, and the cargo sold by auction at Leith. The minerals 

 attracted but little general notice, in part, I have been informed, 

 from their being packed in mo>s and sea- weed, and perhaps also 



