baie eared 
Notices of Eminent Men deceased in Great Britain, 307 
“For many years past Mr, Smithson has resided abroad, principally, 
-T believe, on account of his health: but he carried with him the es- 
teem and regard of various private friends, and of a still larger num- 
ber of persons who appreciated and admired. his acquirements. 
'5. Mr. Henry Brownz.—No one, I believe, was ever more 
distinguished in the important station of commanding those vessels 
which secure to England the commerce of nations unknown to 
former ages; nor did any one more largely contribute towards intro- 
- ducing the modern refinements of nautical - astronomy, which skill- 
fully pursued, and under favorable circumstances determine the place 
of a ship with greater accuracy, than what in the early part of the 
last century would have been thought amply sufficient for headlands, 
-Yoadsteads, or harbors of the fitst importance. And I cannot omit 
this opportunity of congratulating all those who addict themselves to 
astronomical pursuits, or who feel an interest in the perfection of ge- 
ography and navigation, on the great improvements recently suggested 
and likely to be made in our national ephemeris; improvements 
“Which, in’part at least, I hoped to have got adopted twelve years 
+ but now under more fortunate auspices I flatter: myself that 
y will be carried into execution, and their previa cabana 
cannot fail of being very great. 
‘Retired to private life, Mr. Browne usefully arused his declining 
years by a continuance’ of his favorite pursuits; and up to.the latest 
period of his life he oe ae esa and promoted erie: 
astronomy. 
6. The late Duke OF Madéee demands also attention, not on ac* 
Count of his high station, but as a patron of science, and especially 
of that most cho interesting and rapidly. improving branch of 
science, geolo 
Geology, Sestvine j its birth from the continent ‘of Europe, seems 
to have been drawn to this island by the genius of Dr. Hutton, and 
here to have grown with the vigor of youth under the fostering hands 
; of many who now hear me, wa also of a gentleman to whom the’ 
Duke of Atholl afforded every assistance to be derived from his 
ge property, and bis extensive influence. .~ 
he Duke of Atholl has also at.once enriched and decorated his 
Country ; and afforded an instructive example toall other proprietors 
of similar wastes, by clothing tracts of |land, incapable of a different 
Cultivation, with the most valuable of the pines. His forests of larch, 
Which have acquired maturity in the course of a single life, promise 
