own, by clearly defining the position and character of the Upper and 

 the Lower Greensands, as separated by the Gault*." This state- 

 ment is from a recent notice of Dr. Fitton, containing further inter- 

 esting information on his life and labours, and proceeding from an 

 authority unquestionable, both as regards personal knowledge of the 

 man, and just appreciation of his work. 



Dr. Fitton was elected into the Royal Society in 1815. He be- 

 longed also to the Linnean, Astronomical, and Geographical Socie- 

 ties. Of the Geological Society he was one of the most active and 

 distinguished Fellows ; he served for some years as Secretary, and 

 eventually attained to the honour of the Presidency; and in 1852, 

 when he had for some years ceased from active labour, the Society 

 " conferred on their veteran associate the highest honour in their 

 gift, the Medal founded by his dear friend Wollaston." 



Sir JOHN FORBES was born in December 1787, at Cuttlebrae, in 

 the parish of Ruthven, Banffshire. In 1799 he went to the Aca- 

 dtemy of Fordyce, where he formed that friendship with Sir James 

 Clark which remained a source of life-long pleasure to both. Ob- 

 taining a Bursary (founded by an ancestor of his mother's) to the 

 Grammar School at Aberdeen, he proceeded thither in 1802; and 

 in the following year he entered at Marischal College in Aberdeen, 

 where he remained until 1806f. From Aberdeen he went to Edin- 

 burgh, where he obtained a surgical qualification; and in 1807 he 

 entered the medical service of the Navy, in which he served, chiefly 

 in the North Sea and in the West Indies (where he was present at 

 the taking of Guadaloupe by Sir P. H. Durham, to whom he acted 

 not only as flag-surgeon but as secretary), until 1816. Being 

 placed on half-pay at the general reduction which took place at the 

 conclusion of the war, he returned to Edinburgh, where he spent a 

 year and then graduated. On the recommendation of Professor 

 Jameson he settled at Penzance as the successor of Dr. Paris, and 

 there he remained until 1822, giving his attention not merely to 



* Address delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Geological Society, 



t Among other Professors whose lectures he attended there was Dr. Robert 

 Hamilton, who gained a high reputation by his published works, but who was 

 y noted for his extraordinary absence of mind," of which Sir J. Forbes was 

 accustomed to relate some most amusing illustrations. 



