726 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 229. 



184,3, but ceased the practice of bis profession 

 in 1874. He was a Fellow of the Eoyal As- 

 tronomical and Meteorological Societies and 

 a member of the Scottish Meteorological 

 Society, and the author of ' Observations on the 

 Climate of Uckfield,' second edition, 1886; 

 ' Observations upon the Great Comet and Tran- 

 sit of Venus,' 1882 ; ' On the Ancient Telescope 

 of Hevelius, with Translation,' 1882; ' Observa- 

 tions upon the Climate of Crowborough Hill, 

 Sussex,' second edition, 1898; and 'On the 

 Rainfall at Uckfield for 50 years.' 



Mr. Benjamin Vincent, who was connected 

 for more than half a century with the Royal 

 Institution of London, died on May 3d. The 

 London Times states that he owed his appoint- 

 ment as Assistant Secretary in 1848 to Faraday, 

 with whom he was connected by marriage. 

 He became subsequently Keeper of the Library, 

 retiring in 1889 with the title of Honorary Li- 

 brarian. At the Royal Institution Faraday, 

 who was about twenty years his senior, found 

 in him an untiring and enthusiastic coadjutor 

 in promoting the knowledge of scientific prog- 

 ress and the welfare of the Institution. Fara- 

 day was well aware of the importance of cre- 

 ating and maintaining public interest in scientific 

 work, and in this respect was greatly helped 

 by Mr. Vincent, who for many years, quite apart 

 from the oflScial duties of his position, drew up 

 clear, condensed reports of the lectures and 

 discourses delivered at the Institution, which 

 were published in The Times, the Athenteum and 

 the Illustrated London News. As Librarian he 

 was responsible for the arrangement and 

 selection of the large and valuable collection of 

 books, and he found time to prepare an ad- 

 mirable classified catalogue of these. 



The death is announced of M. M. Charles 

 Brongniart, assistant in entomology at the Paris 

 Museum of Natural History, at the age of 40 

 years. He was the son of the eminent botanist 

 and had himself made important contributions 

 to entomology. 



De. Wilhelm Jokdan, professor of geometry 

 and geodesy at the Technical Institute at Han- 

 over, died on April 17th, aged 57 years. 



Professor Newton, of Cambridge Univer- 

 sity, announces that applications by students to 



occupy the University's table in the laboratory 

 of the Marine Biological Association at Ply- 

 mouth should be sent to him on or before 

 June 1st. 



The Division of Forestry of the Department 

 of Agriculture is prepared to appoint a few 

 well-qualified student assistants. They will be 

 given practical field work, their expenses will 

 be defrayed and they will be given |300 a year. 

 These assistants should have preparation as fol- 

 lows : 



(1.) Botany, emphasis to be laid chiefly on the 

 structure and life of plants. Systematic botany need 

 not be dwelt on at length. The knowledge essential 

 to the determination of the species of trees is, natur- 

 ally, of great importance. Cryptogamio botany should 

 not be entirely neglected, althougli only a general 

 view is required. 



(2.) Geology, with special emphasis on the origin 

 and meaning of the surface features of the earth. 



( 3. ) Some physics and chemistry are essential, and 

 a slight knowledge of zoology and entomology should 

 not be omitted. 



(4.) Mathematics should include geometry and 

 trigonometry, and, ijreferably, mechanics also. A 

 good working knowledge of surveying should he ac- 

 quired. 



(5.) Some knowledge of law and business 

 methods. 



(6. ) German or French, preferably the former, and 

 still better both together. 



( 7. ) A good course in economics. 



(8.) History and geography of the United States, 

 with special reference to economic development and 

 production. 



Further information concerning these posi- 

 tions may be obtained from Mr. Giflbrd Piuchot, 

 Chief of the Division of Forestry, Department 

 of Agriculture. 



By the will of Benjamin F. Horwitz, of Bal- 

 timore, $5,000 is bequeathed to Johns Hopkins 

 University, the income to be used annually in 

 bestowing a medal upon such member of the 

 medical profession, either in this country or 

 abroad, who has accomplished most during the 

 preceding year in ameliorating the sufferings of 

 mankind in the way of medical discoveries. 

 This bequest is in honor of the memory of Dr. 

 Eugene Horwitz, son of the testator. 



We learn from the British Medical Journal 

 that by a codicil to his will, dated February 



