402 Presidentship of Sir Edward Sabine 1870 



Western and Northern Europe from the Mediterranean to 

 Arctic waters, and was thus enabled to add to the European 

 fauna some dozens of previously unknown species of mol- 

 lusks. He was associated with W. A. Carpenter and Wyville 

 Thomson as one of the pioneers of deep-sea research, and at 

 their request took charge of part of the explorations on the 

 Porcupine. 



The presence of Murchison in the chair at the Anniversary 

 dinner of the Club this year was one of the last appearances 

 made by him at the Club or in any public place. He was at 

 this time in correspondence with the Government of the day 

 with reference to a proposed subdivision of the Chair of 

 Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, which was 

 a Crown appointment. Should the Crown be willing to 

 separate Geology and its cognate branches of science from 

 the zoological division of Natural History he expressed his 

 willingness to provide 6000 towards the endowment of a 

 new Professorship of Geology and Mineralogy. Before the 

 negotiations on the subject were completed he was on 2ist 

 November this year struck down by a paralytic seizure which 

 deprived him of the use of his left side. He recovered so 

 far as to be able to take a daily drive and to dictate his last 

 Presidential Address to the Geographical Society. But 

 though he lingered through most of the following year, the 

 end was visibly approaching. It was with some difficulty 

 that the arrangements for the final settlement of the Edin- 

 burgh Professorship could be carried through. The old 

 chief, however, had the satisfaction of seeing them com- 

 pleted. But on 2ist October, a fortnight before the newly 

 appointed Professor had given his inaugural address, the 

 founder of the Chair passed away. 



1871. At the Anniversary Meeting on 22nd June 1871 

 there were thirty-four members present, and Sir Edward 

 Sabine, President, filled the chair. The Treasurers stated 

 that the expenditure since the last Annual General Meeting 

 amounted to 103 145. and a balance of 8 143. 8d. remained 

 in their hands. The total number of dinners had been 21 

 and of diners 303, of whom 64 were visitors. The average 



