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the consequence of hardships endured and bodily and mental powers 

 overstrained, in the cause of science and of that profession to which 

 through life he was so earnestly devoted. The Chair was, however, 

 left vacant in the hope of his speedy recovery, and on this hope being 

 to some extent fulfilled, he was unanimously elected, and entered with 

 his usual zeal on the duties of that honourable position. This was 

 in 1855 : in May of the following year he delivered his Presidential 

 Address at the Anniversary Meeting of the Society, and this was his 

 last conspicuous public duty. His health, notwithstanding his 

 partial recovery, was permanently broken, and a renewed attack of 

 illness terminated his useful life on the 29th of November, 1856, in 

 the sixty-first year of his age. 



It may be long before we are called on to record public services of 

 nearly half a century more ably, earnestly, and usefully performed 

 than those of Admiral Beechey. On his private virtues this is not 

 the occasion to expatiate ; it will suffice here to say that he was a 

 sincere Christian, and a gentleman in the best sense of the term, 

 and that through life he was supported by a firm trust in Provi- 

 dence, and actuated by a single-minded determination at all times to 

 do his duty. 



Admiral Beechey married, in 1828, Charlotte, youngest daughter 

 of Colonel Stapleton, of Thorpe Lee, Surrey, and has left several 

 children. 



On the motion of Sir Benjamin Brodie, seconded by the Rev. 

 Professor Powell, the best thanks of the Society were voted to the 

 President for his excellent address, and his Lordship was requested 

 to permit the same to be printed. 



The Statutes relating to the election of Officers and Council having 

 been read, and Dr. Gray and Professor Bell having been, with the 

 consent of the Society, nominated Scrutators, the votes of the Fellows 

 present were collected. 



