524' Geological Society. 



in his own garden ; and the tarnished dollars, which in 1 800, on the 

 announcement of Volta's discoveries, assisted in forming a galvanic 

 pile, are still preserved. 



About this time he was much interested in the discovery of large 

 masses of sulphate of strontian in the fields adjoining his house at 

 Ham Green. Specimens of these, beautifully crystallized, were 

 found in nearly a horizontal stratum immediately under the soil : 

 at the same spot, the magnesian conglomerate has since yielded 

 specimens of meiomite. 



Mr. Bright's influence and taste and knowledge of architecture 

 were often employed in behalf of his native city. The library, the 

 infii-mary, the asylum for the blind, the college, the observatory, 

 are among those establishments for which in succession he has la- 

 boured ; and on none did he bestow more of his time and thought 

 than on The Bristol Institution, both at the period of its formation 

 in 1 822, and for the eighteen years which intervened between that 

 and his decease. Provincial establishments of this kind were at this 

 time new experiments, and when political feelings were strong, he 

 co-operated most efficiently with his friends Dr. Beake, then Dean 

 of Bristol, Mr. Harford, Mr. Sanders, and The Rev. W. D. Cony- 

 beare, to induce men of all parties to meet together on that neutral 

 ground,— the formation of a scientific society for a common object 

 — to promote the study of the works of nature, and the advancement 

 of literature, science, and art. 



Amid all his various scientific interests, mineralogy, geology, and 

 fossil osteology claimed the first yjlace. Cuvier's researches were 

 noted and abstracted in 1835 as earnestly as Adair Crawford's 

 work on Heat was in 1779. He was as eager to possess and examine 

 specimens of the fossil Infusoria of Ehrenberg at the age of S^, as 

 he had been when scarcely twenty to hail a new discovery of his 

 friend Dr. Priestley ; and he felt as glad and excited in forming a 

 personal acquaintance with the eminent geologists who came to the 

 meeting of the British Association in 1836, as he had formerly been 

 in his introduction to Franklin at Paris in 1777. At the age of 82, 

 when bodily infirmity prevented him from taking any very active 

 part in the proceedings of the British Association assembled at 

 Bristol, he made his house and collections at Ham Green access- 

 ible to all its members. He was at that moment ardently following 

 up the very latest discoveries in geology, and adding to his cabinet, 

 with all the fervour and delight of youth, fresh accessions from the 

 stores of organic remains, then newly discovered at the base of the 

 Himalaya mountains. 



He has published nothing. His name however may remain as- 

 sociated with the progress of science, by his liberal co-operation 

 with Professor Whewell and the members of the British Association 

 in the erection of a machine for registering the tides of the Avon 

 upon a cliff overhanging that river, within the grounds of his resi- 

 dence at Ham Green, upon the very spot (though at the tinie it was 

 unknown to be so) from whence Captain Sturmy made his observa- 

 tions which were transmitted to Sir Isaac Newton. During three 



