484 Biographical Sketch of Sir R. I. Murchison, Bart., F.R.S. 



taining an abundant and varied suite of fossils. The name Permian 

 is now generally adopted. 



In 1854 Sir Eoderick published the first edition of his best-known 

 work, " Siluria," which had, in 1867, reached its fourth edition, 

 and contains 5QQ pages 8vo. of closely printed matter, 41 plates and 

 explanations. 



In 1855 he produced a memoir in conjunction with Prof. Morris on 

 the German Paleeozoic rocks, and shows that there is no break be- 

 tween the Permian system and the Triassic series. 



By the death of Sir H. T. de la Beche, Sir Eoderick, in 1855, suc- 

 ceeded to the post of Director General of the Geological Survey and 

 the Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn Street, which have owed 

 their efficiency for the past fifteen years very largely to his energy 

 and constant attention. 



Sir Eoderick Murchison will long be remembered both in the 

 world of science and of commerce in connexion with the discovery 

 of gold in Australia. Long years before the actual discovery of gold 

 in Australia was made known, he inferred the presence of auriferous 

 deposits in the Australian mountain-ranges from the analogy which 

 existed between their rock-formations and those of the Ural moun- 

 tains, with the physical characters of which he had made himself 

 familiar. He endeavoured most earnestly at the time to awaken 

 the attention of the Home Government to the great importance of the 

 subject to our colonies in the Southern hemisphere, but with little 

 success. 



During his scientific career he has been identified most intimately 

 with the Geological Society. He acted as Secretary for five years, 

 was elected President in 1831-2, and again in 1842-3. 



He aided Sir David Brewster, in 1830, to establish the British 

 Association, of which for several years he acted as General Secretary. 

 He was President at the Meeting for 1846, at Southampton. 



In 1844 he was elected President of the Eoyal Geographical Society, 

 and again in 1845, in 1852, and in 1856 ; indeed, he has held the 

 Presidential chair of that Society almost down to the present time ; 

 having been succeeded only a few months ago by Sir Henry 

 Eawlinson. 



His energetic efforts in advocating the search after Sir John 

 Pranklin ; his success in raising a monument to Lieutenant Bellot, 

 of the French Navy ; his advocacy of the explorers of Central Africa, 

 Burton, Speke, Grant, Baker, and especially his friend Livingstone, 

 are among the proofs of his earnest self-devotion to the cause of 

 Geographical research. 



Amongst the many workers in the fields of science how few there 

 are whose actual published labours extend over half a century ; yet 

 almost the last Blue Book which has appeared, namely, " the Eeport 

 of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the sevei'al matters 

 relating to Coal in the United Kingdom," (Vol. I. General Eeport 

 and Twenty-two Sub-reports, folio, 1871), bears Sir Eoderick's name 

 second on the Commission. 

 ■ The Council of the Geological Society awarded him the Wollaston 



