y . F, Ekman. 287 



obtained by inventions begun by him, and he probably 

 foresaw much of their value to the world. 



J. F, Ekman. 



In 1856 a gentleman named John Frederick Ekman was 

 introduced to the Society, and soon began to exercise a 

 great influence in the direction of the library. His willing- 

 ness to act soon caused him to be appointed honorary 

 librarian, and he spent most of his leisure time at the 

 work. If we went there between one and two o'clock we 

 were sure to find him diligent in the ordering of his books, 

 making of lists, and writing letters to foreign societies. 

 The idea of enlarging our correspondence with foreign 

 scientific bodies and exchanging memoirs was certainly 

 Mr. Binney's, and the present writer began the work when 

 he was secretary ; but it required much time and it was done 

 feebly, whereas Mr. Ekman put great force and enthusi- 

 asm into the work ; and it went forward with great vigour. 

 The memoirs were not sold to any extent ; the public has 

 given up all such purchases we may say. In early times 

 a considerable income was made from the sale. The 

 method of exchange was a mode of distributing our copies 

 well and also of obtaining the works of others — an ad- 

 vantage it is hoped to both, although the Society cannot 

 doubt that it has the greatest gain as a whole ; but this by 

 no means extends to every case. 



It is interesting to consider the personality of Mr. 

 Ekman : he was tall, broad shouldered, and powerful-look- 

 ing. He was from Sweden. His manners were polished 

 and his speech was courtly, with somewhat of a tinge of the 

 freer and more hasty habits of a commercial town. He was 

 foreign correspondent to a commercial house, and was able 



