200 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



considerable interest in the expedition, and from that 

 time forward was numbered amongst Murchisons 

 illustrious friends. On being joined by Count von 

 Keyserling, deputed by the Russian Government to 

 attach himself to the expedition, they spent the next 

 five months in exploring Central and Southern Russia, 

 a work full of incident, the results of which were 

 subsequently detailed in " Russia and the Ural Moun- 

 tains"; a costly and elaborate work, in which are treated 

 not only the rocks of Russia, but also those of Scandi- 

 navia. His scientific merit was, through the produc- 

 tion of this work, now so thoroughly recognized 

 abroad, that it could no longer be ignored at home ; 

 and accordingly in 1846 he received the honour of 

 knighthood in consideration of his distinguished 

 services. Three years later he obtained the still higher 

 honour of the Copley Medal, from the Royal Society. 



Murchison had now done the main g-eolo^ical 

 work of his life. There only remained to hiin the 

 consolidation of his conquests, and the application 

 of his classification to other regions. In 1854 the 

 first octavo edition of his popular work, " Siluria," 

 appeared, in which, as before, he availed himself 

 of the co-operation of all the best men in their 

 respective departments. 



For thirty years Sir Roderick had been free from 

 the cares of public duty. It was now his fate to 

 be appointed Director-general of the Geological 

 Survey of Great Britain, and of the School of Mines ; 

 a position which he held till his death, to the great 

 advantage of the public service. The energy and 



