78 Canadian Record of Science. 
forgotten; and, at most, only a vague impression remains of 
what he actually accomplished even among those who have 
most to do with similar work in these provinces at the 
present time. 
A brief sketch of the career of Alexander Murray, and a 
succinct enumeration of his work which would help to 
preserve to him the credit of his labors ere it is too late, 
would, therefore, be not only a just tribute to his memory, 
but a useful record for reference hereafter in regard to the 
geography and geology of Canada and Newfoundland. For 
these reasons I have been induced to respond to the above ~ 
mentioned request ; and in undertaking this duty I propose 
in the personal part of the narrative to paint a true picture, . 
giving the shadows as well as the lights, so that the reader 
may form a correct estimate of his character. 
It was my good fortune to be tolerably well acquainted 
with Mr. Murray’s history both in Canada and Newfound- 
land—otherwise I would not have attempted the present 
task. Not only was I associated with him for seven years 
at the headquarters of the Geological Survey in Montreal, 
but I accompanied him one year, as assistant, to his favorite 
haunts among the Huronian rocks of Lakes Superior and 
Huron, which, it is well known, he was the first to investi- 
gate; and, as regards Newfoundland, I have had opportuni- 
ties of going over his work in different parts of the island 
and afterwards of discussing its geology with him during 
several weeks’ residence at St. John’s in the winter of 1868-69. 
Where my own knowledge was lacking at any point, I have 
obtained the requisite information through the kindness of 
friends of his in both countries. Among those in Canada 
I would mention Major Joseph Wilson of Sault Ste. Marie, 
Mr. John Johnson and Mr. Scott Barlow of Ottawa, former 
assistants ; and as to Newfoundland, his widow, now resi- 
dent in Edinburgh, Mr. Thomas C. Weston of Ottawa, Rev. 
Moses Harvey of St. John’s, and more particularly Mr. 
James P. Howley, his assistant on the Island, to whom 
further reference will be made. 
