65 
an account of meteorite paper which fell from the sky in Courland in 
1686, and was found to be composed of Confervz and Infusoria. 
I now proceed to notice some of the most conspicuous names, 
both among our own countrymen and foreigners, which have been 
removed by death from our lists since last year. 
In Sir Abraham Hume the Society has lost a member who was at 
all times one of its most strenuous friends and most liberal supporters, 
-and especially in its earliest periods, when such aid was of most 
value. Indeed he may in a peculiar manner be considered as one 
of the Founders of the Society. English geology, as is well known, 
evolved itself out of the cultivation of mineralogy,—a study which 
was in no small degree promoted, at one time, by the fame of the 
mineralogical collections of Sir Abraham Hume and others. The 
Count de Bournon, exiled by the French revolution in 1790, brought 
to England new and striking views of crystallography, resembling 
those which Hat was unfolding in France ; and was employed to 
arrange and describe the mineralogical collections of Sir John St. 
Aubyn and Mr. Greville, and especially the collection of diamonds 
of Sir Abraham Hume, of which a description, illustrated with 
plates, was published in 1816. Some years before this period a few 
lovers of mineralogy met at stated times at the house of Dr. Babing- 
ton, whose influence in preparing the way for the formation of this 
Society was mentioned with just acknowledgement in the Pre- 
sident’s Address, in 1834, by Mr. Greenough; and certainly he, 
more fitly perhaps than any other person, could speak of the merits 
and services of his fellow-labourers. Of the number of these Sir 
Abraham Hume was one; although not, I believe, one of those who 
showed their zeal for the pursuits which associated them by holding 
their meetings at the hour of seven in the morning, the only time of 
the day which Dr. Babington’s professional engagements allowed 
him to devote to social enjoyments of this nature. 
Out of the meetings to which I refer this Society more imme- 
diately sprung. The connection of mineralogy with geology is 
somewhat of the nature of that of the nurse with the healthy child 
born to rank and fortune. The foster-mother, without being even 
connected by any close natural relationship with her charge, sup- 
plies it nutriment in its earliest years, and supports it in its first 
infantine steps; but is destined, it may be, to be afterwards left in 
