232 Linnean Society. 
early studies, he was far from inattentive to the claims of Natural 
History on a porticn of his leisure. He cultivated chiefly that 
branch of it which embraces the vegetable kingdom; and an ac- 
quaintance formed in Cornwall with Dr. Withering, as well as his 
friendship with Dr. Beddoes and Dr. Sibthorp at Oxford, contri- 
buted to the same end. He became a Fellow of the Linnean So- 
ciety in 1792, in which year he also served the office of Sheriff for 
his native county. In the year 1804 he was chosen one of the re- 
presentatives of the borough of Helston, and in 1806 was returned 
in a new Parliament for that of Bodmin. In this seat he continued 
till the year 1832, when he ceased to be a member of the legislature. 
During the whole time of his continuance in Parliament, he was the 
encourager and indefatigable supporter of every measure connected 
with the advancement of science; and by his representations and 
exertions many services were rendered to various scientific societies 
and institutions, in promoting whose prosperity and usefulness he 
was incessantly and zealously occupied. He took a prominent part 
in the inquiry relating to the currency, and published in 1811 a 
plain statement of the bullion question; and he was also very 
active both in the House of Commons and out of it in the atreniger 
ment of the standard of weights and measures. 
In 1806 he married Mary Anne Gilbert, and in 1817 he assumed 
the name of her family, in pursuance of the injunction contained in 
a will of her uncle, Charles Gilbert, Esq., of Eastbourne, in Sussex. 
By this marriage he had seven children, of whom only four sur- 
vived him ; John Davies Gilbert, Esq., the present Sheriff of Sussex, 
and three daughters. 
He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1820, and 
was likewise Fellow of the Astronomical and Geological Societies. 
He continued to perform the office of Treasurer of the Royal So- 
ciety, till in 1827 he became President of that distinguished body. 
In the year 1831 he retired from the chair, and was succeeded by His 
Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. In 1832 he received from the 
University of Oxford the Degree of Doctor of Laws, by Diploma. 
His last visit to his native county took place in 1839. On lea- 
ving Cornwall he came through Exeter and Oxford to London, and 
returned after a few days to Oxford. This last journey, which was 
attended by some untoward circumstances, was too much for his 
sinking strength. On his return to London he fell into a state of 
lethargy, from which, though he was enabled to reach his home, he 
never fully recovered, but after lingering in this state for some time 
he expired, on the 24th of December, 1839, and in the 73rd year 
of his age. 
The Rev. Joseph Goodall, D.D., Provost of Eton College.—Dr. 
Goodall was ardently devoted to the study of Natural History, but 
more especially to Conchology, with which science he was tho- 
roughly acquainted, and his collection in that department was re- 
garded as one of the most valuable in this country. He was ever a 
warm and zealous friend of this Society. 
The Reverend Patrick Keith.—Mr. Keith long and successfully 
