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was lucid and convincing, seldom failing in carrying his point ; 

 and his Reports on Engineering works are distinguished by the 

 clearness and correctness of his views and the fearless expression of 

 his opinion, and are so well conceived and drawn up, that it may be 

 hoped they will be given to the world. "With these qualities, which 

 were fully appreciated, it need scarcely be added that he rose rapidly 

 to a very high position in his profession. He became a Fellow of 

 the Royal Society in 1843, and was elected upon the Council; he 

 was a very early Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 

 having joined it in 1824. He had been for the last sixteen years 

 upon the Council, and held the post of President during the years 

 1852 and 1853. 



Mr. Rendel was as amiable and kind in private life as he was 

 energetic and firm in public, and his decease, which occurred on the 

 21st of November, 1856, cast a gloom over the whole of the profession 

 of which he was a brilliant ornament. 



Rear-Admiral FREDERICK WILLIAM BEECHEY, V.P.R.S., 

 P.R.G.S., was the second son of the eminent painter Sir William 

 Beechey, R.A. He was born on the 17th of February, 1796, and 

 his godfather was H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William 

 the Fourth. 



When only ten years of age, he was sent to sea on board the 

 ' Hibernia,' under the immediate patronage of Lord St. Vincent ; and 

 it may be justly presumed that the well-known sentiments and prac- 

 tice of that stern disciplinarian had no small influence in forming the 

 young seaman's professional character, and especially in inspiring 

 that unremitting activity and devotion to duty for which in after- 

 life he was conspicuous. 



After a short time passed on board the ' Minotaur,' young Beechey 

 went with the gallant Sir Sidney Smith, in the ' Foudroyant,' to 

 Brazil. In 1811 he served on board the 'Astrsea,' frigate, Captain 

 Schomberg, and as an ardent youth of fifteen, and captain's aid- de- 

 camp, shared in those long and gallant actions off Madagascar, in 

 which his ship bore a part, and which ended in the capture of two 

 French frigates, and the surrender to the British of the Fort and 

 Settlement of Tamatave. After this he remained a short time on 

 the home station, and in 1815 was on board the ' Yengeur' in the 



