Ohitiiary — Prof. James Tennant. 239 



identify minerals " at siglit," and to test them by their hardness, 

 lustre, form, and weight, represented the common extent of a collec- 

 tor's acquirements. But few understood the use of a goniometer, 

 and not many could use the blowpipe, or correctly make an analysis 

 of a mineral in this country. It was young James Tennant's lot to 

 come to London at an early age, and enter the service of Mr. Ma we, the 

 well-known Mineralogist, whose shop was a centre of resort for men 

 of science. The stock-in-trade consisted of shells, minerals, marbles, 

 etc., most of which Mr. Mawe obtained during his frequent travels. 

 Here Tennant gained his first acquaintance with minerals. The 

 classes of the Mechanics' Institution which he joined, and attendance 

 on Faraday's lectures at the Royal Institution, improved his educa- 

 tion, and enlarged his scientific knowledge of the specimens in 

 which his master dealt. At Mr. Mawe's death, the management of 

 the business devolved upon Tennant, who shortly after succeeded to 

 it as proprietor. 



He derived much advantage from the friendship of Sir Everard 

 Home, whose knowledge of crystals enabled him to impart much 

 valuable information to Tennant. 



When King's College opened in the Strand, the Council desired a 

 teacher in Mineralogy, and applied to Faraday for his nomination of 

 a fit person ; his recommendation was in favour of Mr. Tennant, 

 who shortly after his appointment received the title of " Professor of 

 Mineralogy." The new position opened a wider field of usefulness 

 and of interesting study. His after-life was devoted to the diffusion 

 of knowledge relating to mineralogy and geology, and many of the 

 students who attended his lectures proved that he had not taught in 

 vain by turning out to be useful collectors and observers of minerals 

 abroad. He was one of the strong promoters and believers in the 

 discoveries of Diamonds in South Africa, at a time when others 

 denied their genuineness. 



Professor Tennant was a very ardent advocate of technical educa- 

 tion, and having seen the valuable application of the lathe in cutting 

 both diamonds and other valuable stones and marbles, he induced 

 the Turners' Company to promote the advancement of turning, by 

 offering prizes annually for specimens in all branches of the turner's 

 art. Great credit is due to Prof. Tennant for the revival of this branch 

 of technical education as applied to ornamental work of all kinds 

 and materials. 



He was one of the founders of the Geologists' Association, of 

 which body he was formerly President. He was also for several 

 years a member of the Council of the Geological Society of London. 



SIR PHILIP DE MALPAS GREY-EGERTON, BART., M.P., F.R.S., F.G.S., 



OF OULTON PARK, TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE. 



Born Nov. 13th, 1806 ; Died April 5th, 1881. 



Another distinguished name has been erased by death from th.e 



list of Fellows of the Geological Society. Sir Philip Egerton was 



the eldest son of the Rev. Sir Philip Grey-Egerton, by his wife 



Rebecca, youngest daughter of the late Josias Dupre, Esq., of Wilton 



