William Marcet. 1 65- 



more volumes, which appeared respectively in 1898 and 1900, in 

 addition to a quarto volume of plates of the more interesting species,, 

 which had been prepared under Trimen's direction. From the papers 

 placed in his hands, Sir Joseph was able to print the important order 

 JEuphorbiacece upon which Trimen had laboured almost to the day of 

 his death, and pretty much as he left it. The rest of the work was 

 contributed by Sir Joseph himself. 



The Royal Society Catalogue, down to 1883, enumerates 50 of 

 Trimen's separate papers. He was elected F.R.S. in 1888. 



In manner Trimen was somewhat retiring, if not a little shy, 

 perhaps, with an old-fashioned gravity. Though he devoted his life to- 

 science, the world, in its wider aspects, was full of interest to him, and 

 he was an admirable correspondent. Of a tolerant and happy 

 disposition, I do not suppose he ever made an enemy. His death was 

 sincerely regretted by the European community in Ceylon, and no less 

 mourned by the natives who worked under him. He died unmarried.. 



His scientific work belonged to the older rather than to the new 

 school, but he had a strict sense of form and a disciplined literary 

 method. If not brilliant, it is always painstaking, trustworthy and 

 judicious. He was essentially a man of facts, and for theorising he 

 had little taste. Of such men science has ample need. 



W. T. T. D. 



WILLIAM MARCET. 18281900. 



William Marcet was born at Geneva on May 13, 1828. He came 

 of a family distinguished in medicine and science. His grandfather, 

 Alexander Marcet (1770 1822), belonged to an old Genevese family, 

 but having been compelled by political circumstances to leave 

 Switzerland, went to Edinburgh, where he took his degree of Doctor 

 of Medicine, and having become a naturalized English citizen, settled 

 in London, and was eventually physician to Guy's Hospital. He 

 published several papers of importance on chemical and physical 

 questions in relation to medicine, and became a Fellow of this Society. 

 After the re-settlement of Europe he returned to Geneva, where he 

 resided until his death. He was married in England to Jane 

 Haldimand (1769 1858), who also belonged to a family of Swiss origin, 

 and who was a woman of more than ordinary ability. She was the 

 author of a number of treatises on education, one of which, " Mary's 

 Grammar," is still in request; while another, "Conversations on 

 Chemistry," went through no less than sixteen editions. Their son,. 

 Francis Marcet (1803 1883) was educated at Westminster School, but 



