FORCE. 435 



'Macmillan's Magazine' I infer that he is now aware of 

 it. Mayer's physiological writings have been referred 

 to by physiologists by Dr. Carpenter, for example 

 in terms of honouring recognition. We have 

 hitherto, indeed, obtained fragmentary glimpses of the 

 man, partly from physicists and partly from physiolo- 

 gists; but his total merit has never yet been recognised 

 as it assuredly would have been had he chosen a happier 

 mode of publication. I do not think a greater disservice 

 could be done to a man of science, than to overstate his 

 claims : such overstatement is sure to recoil to the dis- 

 advantage of him in whose interest it is made. But 

 when Mayer's opportunities, achievements, and fate are 

 taken into account, I do not think that I shall be deeply 

 blamed for attempting to place him in that honourable 

 position, which I believe to be his due. 



Here, however, are the titles of Mayer's papers, the 

 perusal of which will correct any error of judgment 

 into which I may have fallen regarding their author. 

 ' Bemerkungen iiber die Krafte der unbelebten Natur,' 

 Liebig's < Annalen,' 1842, Vol. 42, p. 231 ; 'DieOrgan- 

 ische Bewegung in ihrem Zusammenhange mit dem 

 Stoffwechsel,' Heilbronn, 1845; 'Beitrage zurDynamik 

 des Himmels,' Heilbronn, 1 848 ; ' Bemerkungen iiber 

 das Mechanische Equivalent der Warme,' Heilbronn, 

 1851. 



IN MEMOBIAM. Dr. Julius Eobert Mayer died at 

 Heilbronn on March 20, 1878, aged 63 years. It gives 

 me pleasure to reflect that the great position which he 

 will for ever occupy in the annals of science was first 

 virtually assigned to him in the foregoing discourse. 

 He was subsequently chosen by acclamation a member of 

 the French Academy of Sciences ; and he received from 



F F 2 



